Physicians table dietary counter-offer to sponsor Texas Stadium implosion.
If I had a pound for every time I could have started a story with the phrase “only in America”, I’d have, well, a few pounds by now. But the latest turn in the Texas Stadium implosion sponsorship saga really does belong in the file marked “Uniquely US”.
It is unusual enough for a major food manufacturer to sponsor an implosion in the first place and, let’s face it, Kraft’s cheese products are not the first thing you’d normally associate with an impending demolition contract. But now even that pales with the news that a counter offer has been made to sponsor the implosion; one that highlights the potential hazards of consuming the Kraft product.
A national group of physicians is offering the city of Irving $75,000 to drop Kraft as its sponsor for the upcoming Texas Stadium implosion. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine claims the maker’s boxed dinners and cheese products is using the spectacle to market high-fat products to children.
“We’re concerned because of the childhood obesity epidemic,” PCRM spokesman Patrick Sullivan told The 33 News. “Unfortunately, Kraft makes a lot of high-fat food products.” Sullivan added that Kraft’s flagship item, Velveeta, is more than 60 percent fat.
Kraft has not responded to a call for comment this afternoon.
The city of Irving solicited sponsorships for the April 11 implosion of the stadium. Kraft won the bid and agreed to pay Irving a $75,000 sponsorship fee for charities selected by the city. The physicians committee will says it will match the $75,000 sponsorship fee — as long as Irving drops Kraft, and the city hangs a banner reading: “Cheese Really Blows You Up.”
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