Message #60 From:
NewsBot Date: March 16, 2007 07:00:00 AM
HNZ News Italian Panel Rules that Numico Engaged in Misleading Advertising for Baby Formula
PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--H. J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ) announced today that Plasmon, its brand of infant nutrition products in Italy, has received a favorable ruling on its complaint that Numico, a competitor, engaged in unfair and misleading advertising and product labeling.
Plasmon’s complaint was heard and upheld last month by a three-member jury of the Istituto dell’Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria (I.A.P.), the independent non-profit organization that enables companies and the media to voluntarily self-regulate advertising in Italy.
In its complaint, Plasmon charged that Numico’s advertising and labeling for follow-on formula and growth milks on their brands sold in Italy made an unproven claim that those specific products reinforced the immune systems of children.
Plasmon argued there was not adequate scientific evidence to support Numico’s advertising and labeling claims. The I.A.P. jury agreed, ruling that Numico’s claims were not supported by scientific evidence.
Under the ruling on February 20, 2007, Numico had to immediately withdraw advertising, and has 90 days to change the product labels which make such claims.
“As a trusted brand in Italy for 100 years, Plasmon filed the complaint against Numico because we believe parents of infants should not be subjected to misleading advertising,” said Michael Mullen, Director of Global Corporate Affairs at Heinz.
Plasmon is the leading brand of infant nutrition products in Italy and the fourth-largest brand in Heinz’s global portfolio.
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ABOUT HEINZ: H. J. Heinz Company, offering “Good Food Every Day” TM is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of nutritious foods in ketchup, condiments, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant foods. Heinz provides superior quality, taste and nutrition to people eating at home, at restaurants, at the office and “on-the-go.” Heinz is a global family of leading brands, including Heinz® ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing nearly one-third of total sales or close to $3 billion), Ore-Ida® potato products,
Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® entrees, Boston Market® meals, T.G.I. Friday’s® snacks, and Plasmon infant nutrition. Heinz has number-one or number-two brands on five continents, showcased by Heinz® ketchup, The World’s Favorite Ketchup®. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com.
