A children's advocacy group has demanded that the loveable green cartoon ogre "Shrek" be removed as a spokesman for an anti-obesity drive.
The children's advocacy group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood believes that the overweight ogre has too many ties to junk food to justify the cartoon character as a health advocate.
Susan Linn, the national group's director, wrote in a letter to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, "There is an inherent conflict of interest between marketing junk food and promoting public health.
Surely Health and Human Services can find a better spokesperson for healthy living than a character who is a walking advertisement for McDonald's, sugary cereals, cookies and candy.
HHS spokesman Bill Hall has showed that he has no intentions of halting the ads featuring Shrek and friends encouraging children to exercise at least an hour a day.
Hall said, "Shrek is a very well-known character in the target population of this campaign.
" "We have always promoted a balanced, healthy diet, which does not necessarily exclude the occasional treat.
" The Advocacy group points out that the newest film in the Shrek series "Shrek the Third" has dozens of promotional deals with many brands of less than healthy food companies including, Snickers, M&M's, Pepsi, Fruit Loops, Pop Tarts, and many more.
"Why would young children follow Shrek's advice about healthy living and ignore his entreaties to eat Happy Meals and Pop-Tarts?" Susan Linn stated.
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