Kitty Litter Claims Fail Judge's Smell Test
MANHATTAN (CN) - Clorox cannot air misleading commercials that make implausible smears against competing brands of cat litter, a federal judge ruled.
In early 2011, Clorox created a commercial with cats doing "clever" things, while the voiceover says: "We get cats. They're smart. They can outsmart their humans. Their canines. Unlock doors. They're also smart enough to choose litter with less odors."
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff summarized the ad in a 13-page order banning its future broadcast.
"Then a cat is seen entering a litter box and pawing through the litter as the voiceover continues, 'That's why they deserve the smartest choice in litter,'" he wrote. "The commercial then transitions to a demonstration that displays two laboratory beakers. One beaker is represented as Fresh Step and the bottom of it is filled with a black substance labeled 'carbon.' The other beaker is filled with a white substance labeled 'baking soda.'"
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/06/42838.htm