Kellogg Targeted by Food Nazis

It appears to me that some consumer advocate groups are simply extortionists.

From Adage.com:

Consumer groups upset about food marketing to children are unveiling today a "last resort" legal attack, a $2 billion suit accusing Kellogg and Nickelodeon of engaging in unfair and deceptive "marketing and sale of food of poor nutritional quality" to children under 8 years old.

Seizing on a Massachusetts consumer protection law that lets consumers sue on behalf of the state attorney general, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood and two Boston-area parents today said they are giving Kellogg and Viacom's Nickelodeon a required 30-day notice of an intent to sue and expect to proceed to court once the notice period expires.

The groups are willing to settle if they get the authority to dictate what Kellogg may market and what Nickelodeon may advertise. Otherwise,

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, a total that the suit claims could reach billions of dollars.

So, in a nutshell, these groups want final say on the products a business sells and a broadcaster advertises or they want their vigorish. Presumably, if Kellogg and Nickelodeon pay the vig, they'll get "protection."