Essay 1185

Junk news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Kraft Foods Inc., Mars Inc., Campbell Soup Co., Dannon and PepsiCo Inc. agreed to discourage schools from selling junk food in vending machines, and instead start hyping snacks that adhere to new nutrition guidelines supported by the American Heart Association. “This is voluntary; they don’t have to do it,” said former President Bill Clinton, who brokered the deal. “But they recognize the challenge we face and they are helping us take the first step.” Clinton then probably inhaled a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos.

• Big Tobacco is running an ad campaign in California denouncing Proposition 86, a measure designed to more than quadruple cigarette taxes. The cigarette makers’ strategy involves accusing hospitals and HMOs of using the proposal to boost their own bottom lines. It’s always interesting to watch greedy liars accusing others of being greedy liars. And besides, shouldn’t all advertising backed by Big Tobacco carry Surgeon General’s warnings?

• A group of illegal immigrants is suing Wendy’s, charging they were terminated after the hamburger maker failed to file paperwork for a federal program that would have helped the workers gain legal status. Upon discovering the failure to join the program, Wendy’s was forced to fire the immigrants. Now the ex-employees are seeking unspecified damages. Wendy’s tagline is, “Do What Tastes Right.” Wonder if the fast feeder will figure out how to do what’s right in this case.