Novartis rep: There's no deal with Paula Deen

By: Lauren Moraski
Topics: Celebrity

Paula Deen poses in the press room at the 2010 CMT Music Awards, in Nashville, Tenn., on June 9, 2010.

(Credit: AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

(CBS) Novartis has no connection with chef Paula Deen and no plans to use her as its spokesperson, a spokesperson for the drug maker said Friday.

Earlier Friday, a report out of The Daily surfaced, citing a source who said Deen had inked a deal to become a spokesperson for a Novartis drug used to treat diabetes and an announcement was expected.

"The rumors that Novartis has signed a multi-million dollar spokesperson deal with Paula Deen for a diabetes treatment are not true," a Novartis rep told CBSNews.com. "Novartis is not working with Ms. Deen."

As of press time, there's still no word from Deen herself, but among the latest recipes on her website are a few on the healthier side, including a "lighter hash brown quiche."

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by Eric_Starson January 20, 2012 3:00 PM EST: I'm sad for Paula, but not all that surprised. Maybe she should look into a healthier diet to treat her diabetes instead of drugs? There's lots of interesting information available at this noncommercial, science based site (nutritionfacts.org). To quote the good doctor: "It is too bad Paula Deen missed this opportunity" to tell her fans "that type 2 diabetes can be prevented, managed, treated, and even cured". Read more at http://nutritionfacts.org/blog/2012/01/18/paula-deen-diabetes-drug-spokesperson/; Reply to this comment


by hommex January 18, 2012 7:25 AM EST: a) your initial reporter did sloppy research. the company Paula Deen will work with is NOT "Novartis" but "Novo Nordisk" which is quite involved with diabetes

b) what's annoying in signing in to create a CBS identity is that the ADVERTISEMENT will not move out of the way ... and blocks one's full ability to enter the information requested.; Reply to this comment