Cookie ad case can become a legal landmark

A cookie manufacturer that claimed in its advertisements its products are made with a kind of nutritious mushroom and thus can treat some stomach ailments has been dragged to court for misleading consumers, because they are said to be no different from ordinary cookies. Comments:

Disputes over cookies with similar claims have become common over the past few years, but food safety authorities seem to have overlooked the issue. This has happened even when discussions and answers are available on online sites for popular science. Food safety and quality inspection departments should strengthen their supervision to stop manufacturers from indulging in dubious practices. In fact, the lawsuit could be a good opportunity to test whether the cookie is a standard snack or if it really is a cure for stomach ailments, and provide an authoritative and clear answer to consumers.

Deng Haijian, July 9

The Advertising Law says that if a celebrity endorsing a product fails to verify its authenticity in advance (or if later tests prove the product is problematic) the celebrity should be held accountable and punished. But without the support of specific cases, the impact of such abstract legal expressions in real life is limited. Therefore, no matter how the case ends, it will become a juridical landmark in fixing the boundary of liability of celebrity endorsements and help establish the authority of law.

Gmw.cn, July 9

The consumer should also have sued the advertisement censorship authority. Compared with celebrities promoting products, the advertisement censorship authority is more adept at figuring out whether an ad complies with the law or not. Therefore, it should act more responsibly when it comes across a commercial that makes false claims. It should also answer whether it carefully examined the advertisement before it was released.

Beijing Times, July 9