Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Irony Alert: Kellogg's named one of the "world's most ethical companies"


Or maybe I should have titled this Irony Alert: Ethisphere Edition as Ethisphere is the brain trust (and I'm not being snarky here - it's literally a brain trust) that just last week named Kellogg's to their 2009 list of the "World's Most Ethical Companies".

Want to know what else happened last week? Last week Kellogg's settled the charges laid by the Federal Trade Commission that asserted in 2008 Kellogg's violated American federal law when they falsely advertised the benefits of eating Frosted Mini Wheats in ads that I feel preyed on well-intentioned parents who wanted to ensure the best possible chances for their children - an incredibly unethical thing to do.

The ads by Kellogg's laid out in this complaint, a company who Ethisphere has put on their most ethical list for the past 3 years running, boasted:

"a clinical study showed kids who had a filling breakfast of Frosted Mini Wheats cereal improved their attentiveness by nearly 20% when compared to kids missed out on breakfast."
Great job Ethisphere, what incredible champions of ethics you are!