A new advertising campaign launched by the notorious PR specialist Richard Berman takes aim at Chipotle. The ad tries to show just how fat one would get if they ate two burritos a week at Chipotle claiming they could gain 40 pounds in a year. Of course, the characters represented in the ad look like they have been eating a lot more than just Chipotle.

Chubby_Chipotle_Ad

Chipotle_Pants

I suppose you could say this same thing about any fast food that is being served in the US. It is no secret that fast food is a major contributor to obesity in the United States, and even around the world where these operations exist. Fast food is usually high in fats and carbs and is usually extremely unhealthy. This was made clear years ago by Morgan Spurlock in his 2004 documentary movie Super Size Me.

This particular series of ads by Richard Berman happens to be somewhat different, though. It is alleged that Berman is using this campaign to smear food companies who don’t serve food from caged food operations that are harmful and cruel to not just the animals, but to the human population as well. Of course those multi-billion dollar operations are pissed off at the various companies that have signed on to cage-free alternatives and more humane treatment of the animals that we eat. Berman, who is possibly tied to these operations, has come out swinging against Chipotle because they have also decided to stop selling foods from processor farms that are running near toxic food farms.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, these targeted ads are part of a massive smear campaign aimed at restaurants who refuse to do business with these processor farms, and instead look for more humane alternatives to supplying their customers food products. Berman’s ads on his website can be seen here which show the smear in progress.

The ads are the work of the notorious “smear” merchant Richard Berman, who runs CCF, the Humane Society of the U.S. now says in a statement. “Berman and CCF have refused to say who is funding this [ad] campaign, but they almost certainly are factory farming interests” who dislike Chipotle “because it chooses not to sell meat from animals jammed into cages or loaded up with antibiotics. So much for his defense of the free market,” the society’s president Wayne Pacelle said in the statement.

The Center for Consumer Freedom replied by saying that The Humane Society doesn’t have a clue what they are talking about.

Sarah Longwell, spokesman for the Center for Consumer Freedom, says the Humane Society “is making wild accusations that it cannot prove. Ask them to prove it and they can’t. We, like them, don’t disclose funders, so they think they can get away with making statements like that.” Another spokesman says the center does disclose on its website that it gets donations from restaurant and food companies.

The one truth here seems to be that restaurant chains are changing their tune when it comes to buying caged meats from farms that are basically using cruel and or inhumane practices in raising their animals. The farms are striking back and going after individuals chains using any means necessary to smear them back into their inhumane breeding operations, and probably at a higher price if they do come back just for trying to speak out about them.

Ultimately it will be up to the consumer on whether or not they will continue to buy products that come from factory farms using inhumane tactics to raise their animals. In that I think everyone is in agreement. Stop being cruel to the animals or face going out of business when corporations stop buying your products. I think the message to food processor farms is that no amount of smear tactics will work to bring them back into the fold once they leave. The message for consumers is to stay vigilant and keep the pressure on restaurant chains to deliver more healthy alternatives to fast food.

Warning: Graphic Video Coverage Below (Credit: The Humane Society)

 

By Marcus Crassus

Marcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *