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NEWS ROUNDUP

Van Den Bergh Stops Campaignmaker of Promise margarine has agreed to stop running its "Get Heart Smart" advertising, which the Federal Trade Commission here said implied the spread reduces the risk of heart disease.The FTC ruled this month that Van Den Bergh Foods' Promise campaign, which also showed heart-shaped pats of Promise on food, was misleading. The agency also accused the Trumbull, Conn.-based

Van Den Bergh Stops Campaign

maker of Promise margarine has agreed to stop running its "Get Heart Smart" advertising, which the Federal Trade Commission here said implied the spread reduces the risk of heart disease.

The FTC ruled this month that Van Den Bergh Foods' Promise campaign, which also showed heart-shaped pats of Promise on food, was misleading. The agency also accused the Trumbull, Conn.-based company of making false low-fat and low-saturated fat claims about Promise.

In addition to agreeing not to use the ad campaign, Van Den Bergh Foods agreed to clearly state the total fat content for a margarine or spread that contains a significant amount of fat.

A company spokesman said that, under the provisions of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, it is listing the fat content of Promise. The company wanted to settle the case in order to be cooperative.

Safe-Driving Program Offered

ST. LOUIS -- Anheuser-Busch Cos. here has announced a "Safe Driving Platform" that seeks to reduce traffic fatalities by targeting "hard core" drunk drivers and young, inexperienced drivers.

The company's platform supports new and aggressive measures to target the repeat offender and high-BAC (blood alcohol content) driver, including calling for tougher sanctions, such as increased pre-sentencing investigations and various tactics to keep those with suspended licenses from getting behind the wheel.

The company endorses items such as alcohol ignition interlock devices. It also supports efforts to require longer periods of adult-supervised driving.

Nestle Introduces New Cocoa

SAN FRANCISCO -- Nestle Beverage Co. here has introduced a new Carnation Double Chocolate Meltdown instant hot cocoa mix. It contains more than twice the chocolate of most other hot cocoa mixes.

Packaged in eight 1.25-ounce envelopes per box, Carnation Double Chocolate Meltdown hot cocoa mix has a suggested retail price of $2.29. The product is being supported by a national freestanding insert, trial-size shippers with bounce-back coupons and a direct mail effort to consumers.

Pillsbury Ladles Out New Soups

MINNEAPOLIS -- Pillsbury Co. here has added a new line of ready-to-serve tomato soups to its Progresso line.

The new line consists of Tomato, Tomato with Basil and Hearty Tomato. The new soups join the existing Tomato with Vegetables soup and are available in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Western states. The soups are packaged in 19-ounce cans and have a suggested price of $1.69.

Progresso is backing the introduction with a freestanding insert coupon drop and television advertising that will run throughout the winter.

Welch's Changes Pallet Program

CONCORD, Mass. -- Welch's here is switching all three of its product categories from a pallet exchange program to the Chep USA pallet pooling program. Welch's is now producing all its lines directly onto Chep pallets, including the Bama products line.

Welch's officials said the new system improves supply chain productivity. The old system was problematic because Welch's had to deal with odd-size pallets and poor quality pallets that would break under normal use, causing damage to finished goods inventories, according to a statement.