Judge Greenlights Review of 'Other White Meat' Sale
By Angie Bowman
“Pork. The Other White Meat” was a popular – and successful – slogan for the pork industry, but the 2006 sale of the slogan from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to the National Pork Board continues to cause headaches.
Five months ago, an appellate court reversed the dismissal of a 2012 lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on grounds payment for the slogan using Pork Checkoff funds was an “unlawful” act.
The sale price of $35 million was agreed to by boards from both pork organizations and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. Payment for the slogan was spaced over 20 years, amounting to $3 million annually.
For a history on the agreement, see, “HSUS headaches return for "Other White Meat" sale”
Now a federal judge has ordered an investigation into the transaction. Our friends with AgDay recently spoke with agricultural law expert Roger McEowen, who warned the lawsuit could “bleed” into other ag sectors as well.
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