Watchdogs object to Shrek

It turns out that the battle over marketing food to children is being waged the world over. Kellogg's and McDonald's are using Shrek in Australia, and have been cleared to do so by that country's Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) over the loud protest of the Parents Jury. According to Australia's Herald Sun, new prohibitions on using such high-profile celebrities for the purpose of promoting "pester-power in children" did not kick in because the green ogre never specifically suggests any actions to children. In other words, they aren't asked to ask their parents for any product. A third target of Parents Jury, a supermarket chain which prominently displays Shrek in-store, was untouched by ASB since its regulations do not pertain to that type of promotion.

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