Well, since some of you are anxious for a follow-up, here we go.
I do believe in 1969 or so, the Kellogg's people were sued for false/misleading advertising over that jingle "a bowl a day keeps the bullies away", as well as the commercial dialogue.
The advertisements, of which there were several different versions, featured a small kid harrassed by about 3 or so bullies. At the suggestion of the appleheaded barker, the kid eats the Apple Jacks, and then overtakes his adversaries.
In short, the Kelloggs company mislead many small children, saying that the cereal had the capability to give them instant strength to overtake an otherwise formidable bully. To further substantiate the claim, the Kelloggs people promised that the product wouldn't be sold to bullies.
Obviously, small children would eat the cereal, then go to take on the neighborhood bully, well.... you probably guessed what happened. In about 1970, the Kelloggs people cleverly bowed out of that line with a live commercial of a "former" bully, who was eating the cereal. However at the end of that ad, it suggested that the bully overtook the kid and took his box of Apple Jacks.
This was a clear example of some poor marketing strategy, hinting on the idea that a kid should stand up to a bully (not the kind of advice I would give a small child. A more mature child, yes).
Chuck
