Have you seen the public service ads featuring Shrek encouraging kids to exercise? The Department of Health is running the ads as part of the Small Steps initiative featuring Shrek and crew exercising and encouraging kids to make sure they get exercise too. Of course Shrek is also awfully busy promoting all sorts of other foods which aren't exactly in keeping with the 'Healthy Food' part of the Small Steps program. Things like Sprite, Keebler cookies, M&Ms and even a promotion with McDonalds.
Jimmy Moore at the Common Voice directs us to other people who think this odd pairing of promotions is ridiculous. The Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood have organized a petition drive telling the Department of Health to fire Shrek and get "serious" about combatting childhood obesity. Susan Linn, Commercial-Free Childhood campaign director said,"Surely Health and Human Services can find a better spokesperson for healthy living than a character who is a walking advertisement for McDonald's, sugary cereals, cookies and candy."
Health and Human Services spokesperson Bill Hall replied, Too bad, we're using him. (Not in those exact words.) The Department of Health and Human Services believes Shrek is an excellent role model for kids as he's not in shape or an athlete, he's just a regular ogre who needs to get moving.....and eat a lot of candy and pop tarts and garbage while doing it.
Maybe Dreamworks should look into marketing Shrek 3 with green vegetables instead. Eat broccoli, turn green like Shrek!
