Taco Bell punts 'Game Day' ad mocking vegetables

Fast-food chain quietly pulls ad after a nutrition advocacy group urges people to voice their complaints.

Thu, Jan 31 2013 at 12:25 PM

Related Topics:

Healthy Eating, Sports, TV Shows, Vegetarianism & Veganism

Photo: Taco Bell

A Taco Bell ad that playfully mocked the role vegetables play during your enjoyment of game day was found to be less than amusing by veggie-lovers and health advocates.

The ad, which featured a person bringing a vegetable tray to a sports party quipped, “Veggies on game day is like punting on fourth and one. It’s a cop out. Secretly, people kind of hate you for it.”

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a healthy living and nutrition advocacy group, expressed their distaste over the ad, and even encourages supporters to express their complaints.

After the outcry was received, Taco Bell obliged and took the ad off the air. Rob Poetsch, a spokesman for the fast-food chain, said, “We didn’t want anyone to misinterpret the ad.”

Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, thanked the establishment for pulling the commercial. “It’s bad enough that there aren’t many ads on television for broccoli, kale, or carrots. The last thing healthy fruits and vegetables needed was to be the subject of attack ads … Thanks to Taco Bell for responding with record speed to address nutritionists’ and consumers’ concern over this ad campaign.”

Check out the pulled commercial below:

Related story on MNN: Taco Bell hopes fresh, healthier food will whet diner demand

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