April 20, 2010

Fried chicken goes pink

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The “Weighty Matters” blog writes that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation doesn’t understand breast cancer. Why? Excerpt:

“By teaming up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, KFC is able to advertise their buckets of chicken as a tool in the fight against breast cancer – something that will likely drive sales of deep-fried chicken as well as help with their corporate image. A whole 50 cents from every pink bucket sold will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure with a minimum KFC contribution of $1 million.

For KFC this is an incredible coup. Not only is this a feel-good cause but they’re likely to make a fortune off of it. KFC hopes to donate $8.5 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and by my calculations that’ll mean the sale of 17 million pink buckets of chicken.

It would be one thing if KFC simply handed over a cheque to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the amount of $8.5 million – that’d be incredibly generous and welcome. However it’s quite another thing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure to sell their name to KFC and allow them to use it to encourage the consumption of high calorie, high sodium fast food and the promotion of a lifestyle that increases the risk of not only breast cancer, but a myriad of diet and weight related illnesses. That I call reprehensible.”

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Michael Benjamin

April 20, 2010 at 11:51 am

Oh my goodness. What shameless marketing shill–never mind the slogan.
I’ll bet the Colonel is turning over in his grave.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Kate

April 20, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Komen has always taken money from anyone who would give it. They had pink and white M&M’s a few years ago. Apparently no one at Komen knows or understands that obesity is a leading cause of breast cancer.

kbrigan

April 20, 2010 at 3:50 pm

Kate’s remark: UNACCEPTABLE
Holy friggin’ leptin, “obesity” is a “cause” of “breast cancer”????? Even though the NIH’s 2008 redredging of the NHAMES III numbers came up with nulls? Even though premenopausal breast cancer is MORE common in the so-called “normals” than in fat women? Start your research here, child: http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/search?q=%22breast+cancer%22+obesity
Kate, you’re reading the wrong blog. Round here we deal in data. Go hang out on the Oprah page.

kbrigan

April 23, 2010 at 3:01 pm

A P.S. re. breast cancer marketing. (Or, “Dang, I used to like pink.”) Check out this reading & book, ESPECIALLY if you have any major illness: http://www.booktv.org/Program/10925/BrightSided+How+the+Relentless+Promotion+of+Positive+Thinking+Has+Undermined+America.aspx

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