Nickelodeon and Kelloggs to be sued

"Public interest" groups today announced plans to sue Viacom (parent of Nickelodeon) and Kelloggs for promoting products they say are harmful to children.

The notice asks for $25 each time a Massachusetts child under 8 saw a Kellogg's ad for "nutritionally poor" products; an ad on Nickelodeon for any company's nutritionally poor products; or Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants promoting nutritionally poor food over the past four years....

The two viewpoints, as summarized by Ad Age:

Food and marketing groups have maintained any food eaten in appropriate quantities can be part of a healthy diet and note a lack of official definition of "junk food." They also contend breakfast cereal can be more healthy than some other breakfast alternatives, and that parents, not children, buy the products and have ultimate control.

The consumer groups argue that advertising makes parents' job of restraining their children's choices nearly impossible and that advertising, especially to younger children, by its nature is unfair.

"Studies show that children under 8 do not understand the persuasive intent of commercials and are particularly vulnerable to messages," the 30-day notice says.