“Karate cow” gets the chop
The Swiss milk producers' federation has been told to drop advertisements featuring a cow practising karate because of a legal wrangle.
The Federal Court in Lausanne on Tuesday ordered the suspension of the controversial advertising campaign pending the outcome of a court action brought by the interior ministry.
The karate cow started appearing in adverts during the second half of last year, where it was featured smashing up a paving stone with a karate chop.
The image was accompanied by a text claiming calcium in milk could help prevent brittle bones, or osteoporosis.
The federal health office objected to the advert on the grounds that its claim to healing properties was not consistent with the law on advertising foodstuffs.
The interior ministry brought the court action after the authorities in Berne ruled that the advert was legal.
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