YumSugar

Man Tries to Pay For McDonald's Meal With Pot

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:00:47 -0700

The economic downturn has forced many people to save money on food in unconventional ways, from reinventing leftovers to organizing food swaps. However, one man may have crossed the line when it comes to creativity.

Shawn Pannullo was arrested in Vero Beach, FL, for trying to pay for his McDonald's meal with pot. The incident occurred just after midnight, at which time a McDonald's cashier called 911. Pannullo, 27, was charged with possession of cannabis and posted $500 bail. A report didn't disclose whether he ultimately paid for the meal using something other than marijuana.

While possession of cannabis is obviously a crime, I must admit I find this story entertaining. The report also failed to list what Pannullo ordered at McDonald's. I'm guessing . . . three of everything?

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Michael Phelps Will Shine Again in Subway's Spotlight

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:51:11 -0700

Subway's ready to test the waters again with spokesperson Michael Phelps: This past Sunday during the US national swimming championships, the sandwichmaker began airing commercial spots starring the Olympic gold medalist. Phelps' year got off to a rocky start when a photo surfaced in February of him smoking marijuana out of a bong.

Within days, USA Swimming had suspended the Olympian from the sport for three months, and Kellogg's decided not to renew its contract with Phelps. Amidst the scandal, the swimming champion was able to hang onto his other major endorsement, Subway - by a thread.

The sandwich chain maintained it was sticking by Phelps, but removed all semblance of Phelps from its website as well as delayed his TV campaign slated for the beginning of the year. The commercials are to reveal that the swimmer - who, at the peak of training, eats as much as 10,000 calories a day - is a fan of Subway's meatball sandwich with jalapeños.

Do you think it's a smart move on Subway's part to hang onto Michael Phelps as a spokesperson?

Phelps Supporters Boycott Kellogg's Products

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:01:07 -0800

On Monday, a photo broke of Olympian Michael Phelps smoking marijuana out of a bong. The backlash was immediately palpable, with Kellogg's dropping its endorsement deal with the champion and USA Swimming suspending him from competition. Now supporters of Phelps, finding the reactions to be far too harsh, are taking matters into their own hands and petitioning to boycott Kellogg's products.

The online petition includes some amusing (and rather valid) points, such as the fact that "Kellogg's has profited for decades on the food tastes of marijuana using Americans with the munchies." Kellogg's was one of the first companies to bring Phelps on board for a mega-endorsement deal after he earned eight gold medals in last year's Summer Olympics. His splashy photo adorned boxes of Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes.

Although non-food sponsors such as Omega and Speedo are standing by Phelps, I wonder if his other food sponsor, Subway, will do the same. What do you think of the scandal? Will you sign the petition to boycott the company's products?

Update: BuzzNewsRoom reports that Subway has removed all semblance of Michael Phelps from its website as it prepares to drop his endorsement deal.

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Kellogg's Donates Michael Phelps Cereal Boxes to Food Bank

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:00:22 -0700

Unwanted publicity from former spokesperson Michael Phelps has forced cereal giant Kellogg's to think outside the box.

Last August, Kellogg's debuted its limited-edition Corn Flakes cereal boxes with the gold medalist on the cover. But when a photo of the Olympian smoking marijuana out of a bong surfaced, Phelps - and, some say, in turn, Kellogg's - were swimming in controversy. Ultimately, the cereal maker decided not to renew a contract with Phelps. One question remained, however. What would be done with all the cereal boxes graced by the champion?

As it should happen, one company's trash is another organization's treasure: Roughly 3,800 pounds of the the boxes were donated to the San Francisco Food Bank two weeks ago.

With the economy in shambles and more people in need than ever, the Food Bank was all too happy to take the boxes off the company's hands. As for cereal, says San Francisco Food Bank executive director Paul Ash: "It's become very hard to get ahold of."

Now that the boxes are no longer on supermarket shelves, they'll probably be collector's items - ones that can only be found at the food bank. Even if I do think the so-called scandal was blown out of proportion, I'm happy to hear that the leftover cereal will further a good cause. Are you surprised to hear of the outcome?

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