Californian mum wins $3m payout for Nutella’s deceptive advertising
HOW dangerous is Nutella? The Consumerist reports on goings on in California, where Athena Hohenberg, a litigious San Diego mother of a four-year-old child, took out a class-action lawsuit against Ferrero U.S.A. Inc., makers of the nutty brown gunk. Back in February 2011, mum was “shocked to learn” “that Nutella was in fact not a ‘healthy,’ ‘nutritious’ food”. Nutella was “the next best thing to a candy bar”.
The adverts tell consumers that Nutella can be part of a “tasty yet balanced breakfast”.
The caring mum claims Nutella “contains dangerous levels of saturated fat,” and “over 55% processed sugar.” She says such things”significantly contribute to America’s alarming increase in childhood obesity” and “serious health problems”.
In 2008, a TV ad screened in the UK showed children chomping down on a breakfast of cereal, orange juice and Nutella-covered toast. It was banned. The voiceover told mums and dads:
“We all want our kids to have a balanced breakfast with something like toast. Nutella releases energy slowly, so it can be part of a balanced breakfast that can help to keep them going.”
The advert was not that misleading. Nutella scores low on the glycaemic index. It is a slow release food. It is also very nutty and not all chocolate, as it might seem.
But the Advertising Standards Authority said the advert suggested Nutella made a “more significant nutritional contribution to a balanced breakfast than was the case”.
Nutella contains 21 grams of sugar per serving. Half the 200 calories in a two tablespoon serving come from fat.
Well, Athena Hohenberg just won. The case has been settled for around $3 million. Anyone who bought Nutella in the USA between January 1, 2008 and February 3, 2012 could be line for a slive of the $2.5 million settlement.
Posted: 29th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
