Kraft Foods in trouble over candy

Kraft Draws Ire for Road Kill Candy

Feb 25, 8:28 AM (ET)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Animal rights activists are disgusted by a new candy from Kraft Foods Inc. that's shaped like critters run over by cars - complete with tire treads.

The fruity-flavored Trolli Road Kill Gummi Candy - in shapes of partly flattened snakes, chickens and squirrels - fosters cruelty toward animals, according to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "It sends the wrong message to children, that it's OK to harm animals. And that's the wrong message, especially from a so-called wholesome corporation like Kraft," said society spokesman Matthew Stanton. The society is considering petition drives, boycotts and letter-writing campaigns to get the candy pulled from the market, Stanton said.

After receiving a complaint from the NJSPCA Wednesday, Kraft officials pulled an animated advertisement from Trolli's Web site that featured car headlights and animals. No other decisions on changes have been made, said Kraft spokesman Larry Baumann. “If you look across the Gummi category we certainly have many products that are offbeat, and that's what we were doing in this case," Baumann said. "We didn't mean to offend anyone."

While I'll agree the candy may be of questionable taste, I enjoy anything that annoys those PETA folk!

I can't believe how Politically Correct some companies have to be these days to avoid upsetting some overly sensitive consumers. They already make gummi candies in the shape of worms and bugs, why didn't these PETA people object to that. My gosh, teaching kids it's OK to eat little helpless worms and bugs just because the candy is shaped that way, now thats what they should complain about.

Road kill is a something we all like to joke about, and with no cruelty intended toward the unlucky animals. How many times have you laughed at one of these fake menus from The Roadkill Cafe where you bring in your own entry and they cook it for you. I think this candy would be a big hit with kids.

It is such great fun to mess with those peta folk. To get them started is soo easy, then the say/or do something stupid.

just as long as they leave 'goldfish' alone,I'll be ok.....what about those horrid yellow,marshmellow 'chicks' we all have had at Easter time? Anyone ever eat 'turtles'?......the list goes on and on

Here's the final chapter: (In just over 12 hours)

Kraft Halts Production of Roadkill Candy

Feb 25, 9:12 PM (ET)

By CHRIS NEWMARKER
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Production of candy shaped like roadkill has come to a screeching halt. The decision, announced Friday by Kraft Foods Inc., was the result of an outcry by New Jersey animal rights activists who said the candy encouraged children to be cruel to animals. "We take comments from our consumers really seriously and, in hindsight, we understand that this product could be misunderstood," said Kraft spokesman Larry Baumann. Kraft plans to stop production as soon as possible and then sell off remaining inventory, Baumann said. The fruity-flavored Trolli Road Kill Gummi Candy - shaped like flattened snakes, chickens and squirrels, complete with tire treads - hit store shelves across the United States last summer and was supposed to be another offbeat and unusual
addition to Kraft's Gummi candy line.

But the nonprofit New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals thought differently. Earlier this week, it threatened petition drives, boycotts and letter-writing campaigns. Stuart Rhodes, the organization's president, said he never thought his group's efforts would be so successful. "Did I think it would happen as fast as I did? No. I guess like most people I've become very cynical. All too often it seems that profit rules all. This was refreshing," Rhodes said. The state of New Jersey designates the NJSPCA the enforcer of its animal cruelty laws. Law enforcement takes up a large part of the group's efforts, but Rhodes has stressed more public advocacy since he took over a year ago. This is the first
time the organization has complained to a company about a product, Rhodes said.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. is in the process of acquiring the Trolli brand along with other Kraft candy lines as part of a $1.48 billion deal.
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On the Net: http://candystand.com/trolli

These animal rights people really have nothing better to do than to demonize a candy. I never tried Road Kill Candy and probably would have never noticed it but I was disappointed that Kraft gave in to the PETA crowd. I guess the animal rights food police won't be happy until all candies are shaped like vegetables.

quote:

Originally posted by Ralph Isbill

It is such great fun to mess with those peta folk. To get them started is soo easy, then the say/or do something stupid.

Nonsense! They don't need jump-starting to say something stupid: that's inherent in them. (Kick-starting them might be entertaining, though.)

Besides, what's wrong with People Eating Tasty Animals?

Who will save the Swedish fish?

why does every poster not realize that it was not PETA that was upset about this. It was the New Jersey chapter of the ASPCA, a somewhat more respectable and mainstream group. The New Jersey chapter enforces the animal cruelty laws set by the state. The article mentions it is the first time they complained to a company. Doesnt sound like they run off half cocked.

Anyway, if it was people instead of animals that were depicted as being run over, it would be a lot funnier.

For the record, i am not a member of either organization.