Kellogg Faces Boycott Over Spidey Toy
A Westchester County executive has called for consumers to boycott Kellogg Co. just days after the company halted cereal shipments to two states, citing environmental concerns.
Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano called for the boycott Tuesday after Kellogg refused to stop shipments to New York of cereal with Spidey-Signal wristbands that use non-removable mercury batteries. Spano also urged New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to intervene.
“We are in discussion with Westchester County officials regarding their concerns, and hope to assure them that Kellogg is environmentally responsible,” said Kellogg spokesperson Celeste Clark.
Kellogg halted shipments to Connecticut and New Hampshire to comply with state laws there that require that mercury batteries be removable for special disposal. Kellogg chose non-removable batteries to limit choking hazards.
New York’s state Senate and Assembly recently passed a bill prohibiting toys and novelties with mercury batteries, but Gov. George Pataki hasn’t signed the bill yet. Spano urged him to do so.
“It is our understanding that all states have exemptions for button cell batteries that are easily removable for disposal, except Connecticut and New Hampshire,” Clark said. “The promotional toy meets or exceeds the U.S. safety standards for toys and also complies with existing laws in all other states, including New York.”
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal wrote Kellogg on June 30 asking the company to remove boxes of the nine cereal brands with the toy, a wristband that emits light in the shape of a web, spider, or Spider-Man foe Dr. Octopus.
