Kraft Foods has said it stands by the marketing for its Oscar Mayer hot dogs as the food giant begins its court fight against allegations from rival Sara Lee over misleading advertising.

Sara Lee filed a hot dog lawsuit against Kraft Foods’ Oscar Mayer business in May 2009, alleging that the unit falsely claimed that its Oscar Mayer Jumbo Beef Franks have a superior taste to Sara Lee’s Ball Park branded hotdogs. Kraft responded with a counter-claim of its own, contending that Ball Park had gone too far in declaring itself “America’s Best” and boasting about its “all-beef” hot dogs.

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However, as the trial opened in Chicago yesterday (15 August), a spokesperson for Kraft told just-food that it stands by its advertising and continues to believe its adverts were “fully substantiated”.

“We believe Sara Lee made claims in its advertising that the company knew would mislead consumers,” the spokesperson said. “We would have preferred to resolve this without a trial but it was not possible. We look forward to the court’s decision.”

Sara Lee declined to comment with the trial now live.

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