Complaints Lodged

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: 22 juillet 2010
• Time: 7:27 a.m.
• Program: Johnny Test
• Broadcaster: Télétoon

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• Le Happy Meal Snack Wrap Grilled Chicken is product made for children under thirteen (13) years and is presented in that way by McDonald’s.
• The way the advertising message is presented: childish conception.
• The timing and place the advertisement is presented: the program, Johnny Test, is a children's show.

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: 22 juillet 2010
• Time 4:34 p.m.
• Program: Hot Wheels: battle force 5
• Broadcaster: Teletoon

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• Top DogsTM by Maple LeafTM are not strictly destined for children under age thirteen(13) ans, but they are particularly attractive for children. mais qui présente pour eux un attrait marqué. At the end of the ad, the message says "a delight for children". 
• Children under age thirteen (13) are presented in the advertisement, eating a hot dog with great enthusiasm.
• The program shown at the time the ad was seen, Hot Wheels: battle force 5, is a children's show.

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: 22 juillet 2010
• Time: 7:15 a.m.
• Program: Johnny Test
• Broadcaster: Télétoon

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• The children's menu at Pizza HutTM restaurants consitutes, as the name suggests, a product intended exclusively for children and is attractive to them.
• The way the advertising message is presented: childish conception.
• The timing and place the advertisement is presented: the program, Johnny Test, is a children's show.

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: January 6, 2010
• Time: 8:20 a.m.
• Program: Salut bonjour

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• The food product itself (coloured sweetened rings) and its packaging do not fail to draw the attention of children, and though Froot Loops cereals are not directed exclusively at children, they have a definite appeal for them.
• The advertising uses 3 children as actors and childish language and representations, and the treatment leaves no doubt as to the target group.
• Although “Salut bonjour” is not a children’s program, the time of broadcasting in question, namely, 8:20 a.m., suggests however, on the basis of the Application Guide for the Quebec Consumer Protection Act, that the percentage of viewers aged 2 to 11 years represents 15% or more of the total.

Response from the OPC: A letter was sent to Kellogg's to request that they follow the law prohibiting advertising to children.

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: May 23, 2010
• Time: 10:20 a.m.
• Program: Les Mélodilous à Télé-Québec

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• The Shrek-themed drinking glasses offered by McDonald’s restaurants constitute a product intended exclusively for children and have a marked appeal for them.
• The advertising uses animated cartoon characters from the movie Shrek, which particularly arouse children’s interest.
• The program where the advertising in question was seen, that is, Les Mélodilous, is a children’s program.

Response from the OPC: The complaint was dismissed as the product was removed and that advertising was not represented. A letter was sent to McDonald's to request that they obey the law.
 

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: July 15, 2009
• Time: 7:23 p.m.
• Program: Les gags

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• Though the product is not exclusively intended for children, it nevertheless has a marked appeal for them (fast food).
• Through its predominant use of children, the advertising is designed to arouse particularly the interest of children.
• Given the program’s nature and time of broadcasting, there is every reason to believe that children make up at least 15% of its audience.

Response from the OPC: The complaint was dismissed because, according to the OPC, the timing of the advertisement's broadcast does not correspond to an audience partially composted of chidren (15%).

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: July 15, 2009
• Time: 7:25 p.m.
• Program: Les gags

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• Though not intended exclusively for children, the product nevertheless has a marked appeal for them (chewing gum).
• The ad’s treatment is directly designed to arouse in particular the interest of children.
• Given the program’s nature and time of broadcasting, there is reason to believe that children compose at least 15% of its viewers.

Response from the OPC: The complaint was dismissed because, according to the OPC, the timing of the advertisement's broadcast does not correspond to an audience partially composted of chidren (15%).

• T.V. advertisement
• Date: July 15, 2009
• Time: 7:26 p.m.
• Program: Les gags

Why believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• Though pizza is a family product, the advertising spotlights one product above all, namely, a frozen dessert with candies, designed to appeal particularly to children and to arouse their interest.
• Given the near exclusive use of children and a treatment appealing to them, the advertising is designed particularly to arouse the interest of children.
• Given the program’s nature and time of broadcasting, there is reason to believe that children compose at least 15% of its viewers.

Response from the OPC: The complaint was dismissed because, according to the OPC, the timing of the advertisement's broadcast does not correspond to an audience partially composted of chidren (15%).
 

Kid’s menu presented in the form of a small colouring book

• given to children
• in Nickels restaurants
• promotes Kool-Aid, Jell-O and Kraft Dinner

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• Though Nickels offers a variety of products, the product advertised is a kid’s meal, which is to say a product intended exclusively for children.
• The presentation is designed directly for children (drawings, message) and highlights the appeal of two gifts (Kool-Aid and Jell-O chocolate pudding) that are intended directly for children.
• The place the advertising is disseminated is a restaurant where no doubt 5% or more of the customers are children given the choice of advertising method.

Response of the OPC: The complaint was dismissed because it was lacking in evidence. When the OPC investigated the complaint, this menu was no longer being distributed.

• Energy drink targeted primarily to children
• Product associated with a website, a television program and collection cards
• Purchase of a Chaotic drink comes with a code that allows accessing a website and playing online.

Why we believe it constitutes advertising directed at children?

• The product is intended primarily for children, including those under 13 years of age.
• The fact that the product is associated with a website and a television program where children can play with their favourite characters online or with cards clearly demonstrates the prohibited target group of this advertising practice.
• Purchase of a “Chaotic” drink comes with a code that allows accessing a website. There is reason to believe that more than 15% of this website’s visitors are children under 13 years of age.

Response from the OPC: The complaint was dismissed because it should have been accompanied by additional details concerning the sale of the product: buying process, point-of-purchase display and stores, etc. This confirms the difficult process of lodging a complaint for consumers.