Chipotle
critic turns up heat with 'Chubby Chipotle' ad
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[September 04, 2015]
By Lisa Baertlein
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican
Grill Inc, known for its indulgent burritos, is battling a "Chubby
Chipotle" ad campaign from the food industry group whose "Nanny" ads
helped sink New York City's ban on super-sized sugary drinks.
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The Center for Consumer Freedom's full-page advertisement in
Thursday's New York Post depicts a smiling, shirtless, overweight
young man flexing one arm and resting the other on his ample tummy.
The text under the "'Chipotle' Healthy" headline reads: "Eat two
'all natural' Chipotle burritos a week and you could gain 40 pounds
in a year."
It urges consumers to find out more at ChubbyChipotle.com, a site
that calls the company's executives "fast food hypocrites" for
claiming that Chipotle's menu is GMO-free and for bending their own
rules on "no antibiotics ever".
The CCF, founded by powerful lobbyist Rick Berman to fight smoking
bans in eateries, said it is supported by restaurants, foundations
and individuals. It declined to name the company that funded the
latest Chipotle campaign.
The ad is "a deliberate effort to smear us," Chipotle spokesman
Chris Arnold said.
"These are agenda-driven people who are being backed by unknown
parties. It doesn't matter who they are as long as they pay," Arnold
said.
Public health experts have warned that Chipotle dishes loaded with
cheese, sour cream and guacamole can approach or exceed daily
recommended allowances for calories, sodium and saturated fat.
The company said it is different from other chains because diners
choose what goes into each Chipotle meal.
The CCF ad is the latest blow against the popular company.
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A California woman earlier this week accused Chipotle of false
advertising related to its claim that it had removed genetically
modified organisms, or GMOs, from its food when many of its
beverages contain a sweetener made with genetically modified corn.
Arnold called the lawsuit "meritless" and "filled with
inaccuracies." He added that Chipotle has been transparent about
GMOs in beverages.
Chipotle won a loyal following by offering meat from animals that
have never received antibiotics. Still, critics are quick to note
that it serves conventionally raised chicken when such supplies fall
short. And, Chipotle recently cited tight supplies for its decision
to allow a new pork producer to use antibiotics to treat animal
illness "only when necessary."
The CCF in 2013 fought then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's
proposed obesity-fighting sales ban on large sugary beverages by
depicting him as a nanny.
(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Bernard Orr)
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