NEWS ROUNDUP 1994-08-15 (2)

Sara Lee Settles 'Lite' Lawsuit

Corp. will pay $130,000 to 13 states in settlements stemming from allegations that advertising for its Hillshire Farm brand sausage products misled consumers.

The charges, brought against the Chicago-based company by the states, alleged Sara Lee's Hillshire Farm and Kahn's division misused the words "light" and "lite" to describe its Lite Smoked Sausage, Turkey Smoked Sausage, Lite CheddarWurst, Lite Fresh Bratwurst and Light and Mild Wieners.

"We believe the advertising created the false impression that the products are low in fat," according to a statement issued by attorney general Ernie Peate Jr. of Pennsylvania, one of the states that brought charges.

Theresa Herlevsen, executive director of communications and public relations for Sara Lee, said the company did not violate any state or federal regulations.

She said the settlement, announced Aug. 4, is an "assurance of voluntary compliance" and is to cover costs of investigations and to fund consumer education. Sara Lee is to pay $10,000 each to Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Perdue Extends Nugget Line

SALISBURY, Md. -- Perdue Farms has extended its chicken nugget line with "Chik-Tac-Toe," which is in the shapes of Xs and Os.

Perdue already markets chicken nuggets in dinosaur, star and drumstick shapes. It also offers turkey-shaped turkey nuggets and chicken-on-a-stick.

The nuggets, made of 100% breast meat with no preservatives, are flash-fried in oil and then baked. They can be warmed in a conventional oven, microwaved in their own trays or eaten from the package.