Anti-Smoking Group Will Run ‘Truth’ Ad During Super Bowl

The American Legacy Foundation, the organization behind the "Truth" anti-smoking advertising campaign, will run "at least one" commercial during Fox network's broadcast of the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, USA Today reports. Kathryn Vose, the foundation's interim vice president of communications, said that they have not yet determined if they will run a "truth" spot or other public service announcements (McCarthy, USA Today, 1/25). Last week, Lorillard Tobacco Co. "officially notified" the foundation that the company plans to file suit over the next 30 days to stop the "hard-hitting" anti-smoking campaign. Ronald Milstein, general counsel for the tobacco company, said in a letter to the foundation that it had "exceeded its mandate" under the 1998 national tobacco settlement by "vilifying and personally attacking tobacco companies and their employees" in its advertisements (California Healthline, 1/23). The foundation "fired back" this week, calling Lorillard's allegations "unwarranted and outrageous." American Legacy CEO Dr. Cheryl Healton said, "They're a smoke screen to hide the company's real goal, which is to crush the 'truth' campaign because it is working to stop kids from smoking." According to USA Today, Philip Morris is also planning to air an anti-smoking commercial during the Super Bowl (McCarthy, USA Today, 1/25).