Cat Litter Commercial Stinks Says NY Judge

NEW YORK -- A New York federal judge says the Clorox Pet Products Co. must stop airing a cat litter commercial that unfairly seeks supremacy over a competitor.

The Clorox ad was aimed at Church & Dwight Co. Inc.'s Arm & Hammer brands of cat litter. It claimed a smell test involving a jar proves Clorox's Fresh Step cat litter outperforms Church & Dwight's products.

The judge found it "highly implausible" 11 panelists would "stick their noses in jars of excrement and report 44 independent times that they smelled nothing unpleasant." He found the claims "literally false."

Oakland, Calif.-based Clorox says it's disappointed in Tuesday's ruling. It says it defends the ad's truthfulness.

A message left Wednesday with a lawyer for Princeton, N.J.-based Church & Dwight hasn't been returned.

Comments

[cathealth101]

12:13 AM on 01/08/2012

Lol, so many advertising company do this. This judge just set a precedent. The only way to find the perfect litter is through trial and error, having cats taught me that.

[BrettG88]

09:15 PM on 01/05/2012

What a load of crap. :P

Companies do this all the time, and one get taken down for cat litter? psh... Don't people have anything better to do.

[undrgrndgirl]

03:02 PM on 01/05/2012

perhaps the judge needs to stick his nose in the jar before making a ruling.

[emailmiracle]

11:27 PM on 01/05/2012

I was wondering the same thing? That would have been a sight to see

[trotinboot1]

11:19 AM on 01/05/2012

most products and all political candidates make false claims in their ads why are we worried about kitty litter?

[acarioti]

10:37 AM on 01/05/2012

Clorox thinks their stuff don't stink!

[mcteeth]

09:37 AM on 01/05/2012

guess the judge didn't think the ad passed the "smell test".

[lrp2nokc]

09:22 AM on 01/05/2012

Easy solution to decide if the judge is correct...give the judge and the court room staff (court reporters, bailiffs, lawyers etc) the jar test and see.

[stape45]

08:48 AM on 01/05/2012

So how do prescription drug commercials pass the test, when there is always a major disconnect between what you're seeing and what they're saying?

[tomgula3]

07:36 AM on 01/05/2012

who'd be dumb enough to believe a commercial anyway?

[Charles Sommers]

02:50 PM on 01/05/2012

Did anyone ever get a sandwich or a burger that looked at all like one from a commercial?

[Ray Russelburg]

07:25 AM on 01/05/2012

OMG! You know how many advertisements out there that will now probably be next? The truck racing down a snowy mountain, jumpine and doing a barrel roll before landing and the guy gets out? NEXT! Advertisements as we know it are gonna be extinct soon!.... Wait.... on second thought I HATE advertisements anyway.

[nanaofmysky]

04:50 AM on 01/05/2012

I can not beleive people would fall for adds like that. Having cats the ONLY way not to have oder is to clean the box daily. (noticed I did not say I own cats. They own you. LOL) Cats are basicly very clean creatures,they will refuse to use the box if not clean or they do not like the litter brand.

[straight skinny]

03:34 AM on 01/05/2012

I've heard of some weird rulings but this one takes the litter...err I meant cake!

[stjoshy]

02:40 AM on 01/05/2012

arent these studies overseen b somesortof non partisan 3rd party? if not then anyone can say anything about anything they want to sell...

[Iron100]

02:56 AM on 01/05/2012

and who will fund that third party? there is no third party to protect me. Why are corporations special?

[stjoshy]

03:00 AM on 01/05/2012

i have no clue. ..it only seems right. otherwise i could come out with a toothpaste that 100 out of 99 dentists endorse..

[giftsthatpurr]

02:37 AM on 01/05/2012

Good for a chuckle!