Santiago: Chilean authorities are suing the giant breakfast cereal-makers Nestle and Kelloggs for putting children's cartoon characters on packets of fattening food in breach of an anti-obesity law, officials said Tuesday.
The government's National Consumer Service said in a statement it had filed a suit against the two companies plus Masterfoods, distributor of M&M chocolates, under June's "Food Labelling Law."
It accuses the companies of breaching the law by "using children's characters on packets of various products classed as 'high in'" certain unhealthy ingredients.
It said the companies had argued they had a commercial right to use the illustrated children's characters as a brand symbol.
Chile passed the law on June 27 aiming to curb high levels of obesity.
Chilean authorities estimate that one in three children under six in the South American country suffers from excessive weight.
The law obliges manufacturers to add warnings to packets of food high in sugar, saturated fats and other fattening nutrients.
It banned manufacturers from putting children's cartoon characters on products such as boxes of sugary breakfast cereals.
It also outlawed the selling of snacks that include toys, such as "Kinder Surprise" chocolate eggs and McDonalds "Happy Meals."
SERNAC director Enrnesto Munoz said the body was demanding a $110,000 fine for each company.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government's National Consumer Service said in a statement it had filed a suit against the two companies plus Masterfoods, distributor of M&M chocolates, under June's "Food Labelling Law."
It accuses the companies of breaching the law by "using children's characters on packets of various products classed as 'high in'" certain unhealthy ingredients.
Chile passed the law on June 27 aiming to curb high levels of obesity.
Advertisement
The law obliges manufacturers to add warnings to packets of food high in sugar, saturated fats and other fattening nutrients.
Advertisement
It also outlawed the selling of snacks that include toys, such as "Kinder Surprise" chocolate eggs and McDonalds "Happy Meals."
Advertisement
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Nestle's French Unit Faces Charges In Pizza Contamination Case Racial Stereotype Charges Unfortunate: Nestle India On Cerelac Row Sugar In Baby Food, Child Labour Allegations: Nestle's Past Controversies Video: Woman Tries To Jump Off Mumbai's Atal Setu, Saved By Driver, Cops Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Updates: Doctors On 24-Hour Nationwide Strike Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources PM Modi Addresses 3rd India-Hosted Voice Of Global South Summit Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Think Big Undergraduate Scholarship, Check Eligibility Criteria Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.