Purina Pet Food company is facing a lawsuit over (basically) misleading advertising for the company’s Beggin Strips. Purina stated it is “nonsense” that any consumer would think the treat is bacon. However, their advertising seems to say the dog treat is bacon. How many times can the word ‘bacon’ be repeated in one television commercial?
From the Reuters.com news story regarding the lawsuit against Purina, “Paul Kacocha of Dutchess County, New York, the owner of a West Highland terrier named Sophie, said he and other dog owners paid a premium for popular Beggin’ products, assuming they were made mostly of real bacon, when in fact the meat is only a miniscule portion of the pet treats. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.”
“Purina spokesman Keith Schopp said in a statement the company has always been transparent and accurate in its advertising, marketing and packaging. “The notion that anyone would actually think we’re selling bacon is nonsense,” he said.”
Nonsense? The advertising for this product seems to be saying exactly that – the treat is bacon (mostly bacon).
In this 15 second commercial from Purina Beggin’ Strips, on average, the word bacon was stated every other second. An image of bacon also displays in the commercial.
In this 30 second commercial from Purina Beggin’ Strips, the word bacon was stated 11 times. During the commercial the dog’s voice repeatedly asks ‘where’s the bacon?’ When the dog reaches the Mom, the dog’s voice says ‘Where’s the bacon? There in that bag.’ An image of bacon displays in the commercial. And the word ‘bacon’ is spelled out in the child’s alphabet blocks.
The Purina Beggin’ website states “More Bacon” four times on the home page.
The package of Beggin’ Strips shows a skillet with bacon frying. And the treat itself looks like fried bacon including the meat and fat strips, and wavy shape common to bacon.
Purina says it is “nonsense” that consumers would think the treat is bacon, but the marketing appears to tell consumers exactly that – ‘bacon’.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
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Gitta
July 21, 2015 at 4:23 pm
I think only an onslaught of similar law suits will force change. Hell is going to freeze over before laws are going to protect pet parents from deceptive marketing aka lies.
D
July 21, 2015 at 5:49 pm
I am sure Purina will contend the dog is saying Beggin not bacon and the ingredients are clearly listed. They will get away with the deceptive advertising.
Regina
July 21, 2015 at 10:22 pm
I have a friend who, despite being of a Jewish family, well, he LOVES bacon. We quote this commercial in jest, because he is such a fan of bacon! That commercial is clearly about BACON!!!!!!!!!
Of course, neither of us would feed our pets anything by purina, but we just amuse ourselves about the silly commercial.
This right here is a prime example of “UN-Truth in Advertising”
Just when you think they can’t go any lower, purina proves you wrong. Ugh.
I’m just waiting for the day the entire company, all the marketers and especially lawyers, all have their trousers burst into flames.
Debra
July 23, 2015 at 1:46 am
Headline: “Consumers say it is “nonsense” to believe that Purina would actually put real meat in any of their products.”
Michael Dixon
August 17, 2021 at 6:30 am
I just read where begging strips are imported from China. I won’t feed my dogs anything from China. What a country the United States has become!
Jill Copenhagen-Greenan
August 20, 2015 at 11:27 am
Honestly, if you haven’t learned to read the actual ingredients which I admit are not so plain as they might be, let that be a lesson to you. Very little if anything that is good for you or your dog isadvertised
James Wallace
April 1, 2016 at 9:58 am
It says on the front of the bag “bacon and beef flavors” and “made with real bacon”, Bacon is the 8th ingredient. No where does it say made with 100% bacon. So if you would buy it thinking that, would you buy orange soda thinking that it was made with 100% oranges?