Milk Group Threatens PETA Over "Got Pus?"

Animal Group's Take Off Of "Got Milk?" Campaign Draws Attention From Milk Lawyers

(AP)  Got a problem with milk? Better not rip off the industry's well-known marketing slogan to express it.

Milk processors are demanding that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals end a publicity campaign that asks "Got pus? Milk does."

PETA, which advocates a dairy-free diet, has plastered the slogan on T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise to draw attention to what it says are dangerous levels of somatic cells - pus - in much of the milk sold in this country. The pus gets there because of an udder infection called mastitis that can inflict cows raised for their milk, PETA says.

The California Milk Processor Board, which owns the Got Milk? trademark, has laughed off countless previous knockoffs, from Got Fleas? to Got Freud? The board even has welcomed some as boosting publicity for milk.

But the board contends there is no truth to the pus claims and that PETA is violating the campaign's trademark.

"Milk is one of the most regulated, tested and therefore safest products that consumers can buy," said Steve James, the milk board's executive director. "Pasteurization has been required for almost a century in order to remove harmful organisms and bacteria so it's safe for human biology."

In a letter provided by PETA to The Associated Press, lawyers for the milk processor board demand that PETA immediately cease the Got Pus? campaign and, by this Saturday, turn over any remaining merchandise along with profits. If PETA fails to comply, the milk board will sue, the letter says.

PETA's lawyers planned to reply in a letter Thursday that would dismiss the trademark infringement allegation as "entirely without merit."

"Your client cannot seriously contend that an appreciable number of consumers who see a T-shirt bearing the 'Got Pus? Milk Does' slogan would be confused into thinking that your client is the source of the T-shirt, attempting to sell milk by letting the public know that when they drink milk they are also consuming pus," the PETA letter says.

The dispute comes several years after PETA sued a different milk group, the California Milk Producers Advisory Board, over its ad campaign depicting allegedly happy cows grazing in California pastures. The ad campaign argued that happy cows produced great cheese, but PETA argued the ads were false and misleading. A state judge threw out the case in 2003 and the California Supreme Court declined to take it up.

[johnstossel]

Is "Got MILF" any better???

[yongamerica]

PETA has been fermenting in its vegan cause to the point of being fetid. On the opposite side of this malodorous Got Pus campaign are the millions of mothers (human and animal) breast feeding their babies and I guess PETA doesn''t have a problem with babies being fed fresh pus. The is bash on milk campaign ignores how many people have been hospitalized or died due to contaminated vegetables just this year in the US. Not one milk recall has been made in more years than I can remember.

While PETA promotes a vegan diet it should be noted that man is designed to be an omnivore, capable of eating plants and meat.

[toolmangler-2009]

I see that pressure has been applied from somewhere, CBS has buried the story, It is not front page anymore.

[toolmangler-2009]

(grin)

[shortyinmo]

Posted by ToolMangler at 09:52 AM : Dec 13, 2007

I think I found my soul mate....(big cheesy smile for ya!)

[toolmangler-2009]

The second daughter was like me, nearly six.

[toolmangler-2009]

She was five feet tall in heels

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by shortyinmo at 09:49 AM : Dec 13, 2007


Well there is still hope, I believe in Jesus also.
BTW, My daughters college nick was ''Shorty''

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by shortyinmo at 09:46 AM : Dec 13, 2007


FIVES

[shortyinmo]

Toolmangler-

Sorry to inform you of the death of unbiased journalism. It died a slow and painful death, in part due to poorly hid partisianship and apathy.

Deepest sympathy,
Shorty

[shortyinmo]

I recently saw a doc. on IFC about PETA. I found it interesting that one of the two founding members quit because Ingrid Newkirk has her own agenda and over the top methods that even he doesn''t agree with.

There were several other other animal rights groups on there and they all noted the same thing, PETA just goes over the top on everything. It distracts from their real causes. She (Ingrid) went as far as to say she wanted to have her body used for a barbq. so people would think of eating meat etc, etc.

If you get the chance watch it. It DOES have some sad and disturbing things on it, however her behaviour and the behaviour of other PETA members is equally dishearting. As for all those celebs joining: Pam Anderson, Joaquin Phoniex (can''t spell-sorry), Alec Baldwin, Andy Garcia, Alicia Silverstone and so on WHO CARES?!?! It is just another cause of the moment, and the day I let a "star" dictate what I eat or how I vote is the day the earth stops turning, those idiots don''t even live in the real world!

[toolmangler-2009]

PETA treats animals better than they treat Humans.

[toolmangler-2009]

really fancy drinking sterilized pus?
Posted by brianbwb at 08:27 AM : Dec 13, 2007


How about we call it Yogurt? For nearly 70 years I have been drinking (and enjoying) milk, I certainly am not gullible enough to swallow PETAs junk.

[toolmangler-2009]

Why is CBS on PETAs side and making the headlines appear to support them. PC News organizations make me want to heave. What ever happened to neutrality in journalism??????

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by yongamerica at 09:17 AM : Dec 13, 2007


I was agreeing with you, but part of the post didn''t make it. sorry

[toolmangler-2009]

Imagine what bacteria cultures grow in that nasty tofu, talk about a rotted product.
Posted by yongamerica at 09:17 AM : Dec 13, 2007


Cheese, Butter, yogurt and others are spoiled or rotted milk. get over it

[toolmangler-2009]

If PETA would be honest instead of trying to weasel money out of industry, they would tell you that F&DA allows 5% foreign matter to be contained in food stuffs, This includes Rat droppings, ground (and unground) insects, sticks, leaves, dirt (earth), Pus and a list too long to mention. All this is with the understanding that said food items are to be sterile. Milk is pateurized, Beef and pork must be cooked, (Pork contains Trichinea worms) if you stop buying everything that as something in it that makes you want to gag from the knowledge, you will starve to death. Get real people. Cook it, fry it, Nuke it and quit being scared of your own shadows, (you inhale 50 or more insects every hour you breathe)

[yongamerica]

"Second, even though it has been sterilized, you you really fancy drinking sterilized pus?"

I find milk pus to be quite tasty, especially in spoiled milk products like buttermilk, cheese and yogurt. Just say cheese!

Imagine what bacteria cultures grow in that nasty tofu, talk about a rotted product.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Pasteurization has been required for almost a century in order to remove harmful organisms and bacteria so it''s safe for human biology."

Two refutations, first, it still is not safe for all human biology, as many are intolerant, (some extremely so), and some are allergic. Second, even though it has been sterilized, you you really fancy drinking sterilized pus?

[brianbwb-2009]

"I have drank milk, (up to a gallon of milk a day), for the last 40 years. I am now 52 and in perfect health..." Posted by DogPressOrg

I am 51, and I hate cow''s milk. Not only am I, like most western adults lactose intolerant, but also feel like throwing up if I try to drink a glass.

Both parties are way overboard, PETA, for caring about their agenda (and the money they make from it), but also the dairy industry, for pushing the lie that milk is actually good for everyone (also for the money they make)

If Peta is rebuffed, and learns to be less strident, and protest the more egregious animal abuse, good. Also, if the dairy industry is forced to be more honest in their promotion for milk ("it''s not for everyone") that will also be good.

So let us hope they both come out of it bloody, battered, but wiser.