one million moms seems to have a bit of power. look out worl

[doggie]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls ice cream is too hot to handle for some supermarket chains. While the new limited-edition flavor has brought chuckles from fans of the "Saturday Night Live" skit on which it's based, some supermarket chains aren't laughing and have been giving it a cold shoulder.

The flavor featuring fudge-covered rum balls has been absent from some grocery freezers since it was unveiled. The title was inspired by an innuendo-laced 1998 skit featuring Alec Baldwin as baker Pete Schweddy, who promises, "No one can resist my Schweddy balls."

But apparently some grocery store chains can, and so can supporters and members of the One Million Moms group.

That Mississippi-based moms organization has been putting the heat on retailers to keep Schweddy Balls out of their freezers and encouraging parents to ask the Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's to stop production of the item, saying the name is nothing but locker room humor that's not appropriate for young children.

Store chains that have decided not to carry the flavor are not saying whether their decisions were influenced by the One Million Moms group, their own reservations about the name or other factors.

Suzi Robinson, a spokeswoman for the Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop chain, said that for proprietary reasons, the company does not disclose the reasons behind decisions about what the stores do and don't carry. She said they have a very strong relationship with Ben & Jerry's, though, and its products are generally strong sellers.

"We haven't received any complaints that we're not carrying that flavor. However, if we do get feedback from customers that they want it, we'll certainly revisit the decision," she said.

Messages were left Thursday for spokespeople from the Roche Bros. and Big Y grocery chains, both based in Massachusetts; and Publix, which has scores of locations in the southeastern U.S., about whether they had decided to stock the flavor.

Even with limited availability, though, Ben & Jerry's spokesman Sean Greenwood said Thursday that Schweddy Balls has quickly become the most popular limited-edition flavor the company has produced.

Greenwood said about one-third of the retailers that carry its other products are offering Schweddy Balls, about the same as any other specialty flavor it has produced — though this one has outpaced those in sales at the stores and the company's "Scoop Shops."

"We've heard from lots of folks who are fans of the flavor," he said. "Yes, some supermarket chains decided not to carry Schweddy Balls. That is true, possibly because they found the name too irreverent. We respect their decision."

Ben & Jerry's, a division of consumer products giant Unilever, has toyed with language in some other products, too, such as its widely stocked Karamel Sutra ice cream and the peanut butter-laden What a Cluster, formerly known as Clusterfluff.

But it was Schweddy Balls that raised the ire of the conservative One Million Moms group.

Monica Cole, director of the Tupelo, Miss.-based organization, said Thursday they hesitated to call out Ben & Jerry's publicly about the name because they did not want to give it publicity.

She said they felt obligated, though, especially given that they did not step forward with their concerns about its "Hubby Hubby" flavor, a play on its "Chubby Hubby" flavor and created to recognize same-sex marriages.

"We don't want the envelope to continue to be pushed," Cole said of the Schweddy Balls name. "I realize it could be a lot worse, but are they going to progressively get worse if we don't say something? Maybe they'll think twice before they come up with another inappropriate name for ice cream."

The company's website encourages members and supporters to warn the company they will stop buying its products if more Schweddy Balls or other products with offense names are produced.

"The vulgar new flavor has turned something as innocent as ice cream into something repulsive. Not exactly what you want a child asking for at the supermarket," the organization's website says.

But some are — including Gina Ragusa's 14-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, whose mother said Thursday they all eagerly await the day when they can find Schweddy Balls in a supermarket near their home in Davie, Fla.

Ragusa, 44, said they find the name and the skit itself to be just harmless humor, and she checks for the item almost every time she stops at her nearby Publix store.

"I get it, I know 'Saturday Night Live' isn't geared toward a 10-year-old, but they know when Justin Timberlake is on," said Ragusa, whose family has the "Schweddy balls" skit on a DVD of Baldwin's greatest SNL appearances.

"We just think it's funny, that's all," she said of the ice cream name, "and honestly we all really want to try it."

[Guest Anonymous]

These women need to get a grip and a life, oh and a sense of humor.

[Kitty]

These women need to get a grip and a life, oh and a sense of humor.

Agreed.

[ThisOlGirl]

I think they have less power than they'd like everyone to think. I posted a comment on their FB page after "The Playboy Club" was cancelled. I basically pointed out that the show's cancellation had little, if anything to do with their ridiculous email blast and everything to do with the show's horrible ratings. They were also begging for money at the time, and I said that I would rather give my money to organizations that actually help people, like the Red Cross or Habitat For Humanity.

My comment was gone by the end of the day(they generally try to keep comments pro-OMM) . Guess they didn't want people thinking that just maybe, their efforts aren't all that effective after all. That, and they didn't want to lose any money to organizations that do actual good.

[lilwriter85]

OMM will have power once in awhile, but overall they will never be able to shut down certain products or TV shows completely. I laughed when they tried to take credit for the cancellation of The Playboy's Club. If you explore their quite a bit, it is easy to tell that they are out of loop with how certain industries work.

OMM really wants the women who join them to think they are going to accomplish a lot. The testimonials section on their site are from woman who think they can "change the world by hitting the entertainment industry in the pocket book". These woman don't realize that the shows and products they protest have way too much support. The Playboy Club's low ratings happened mostly because people figured it was going to be a broadcast ripoff of Mad Men.

OMM's and their issue with Schwedy Balls ice cream is dumb. A lot of these woman probably have purchased Ben&Jerry's products and they probably don't have budgets to buy the products.

[Hane]

So THIS is why I couldn't find Schweddy Balls at my local Stop & Shop? I thought it was because Ben and Jerry's was limiting distribution.

I want to find these meddling broads and kick 'em in the clam.

[Smooth Beans]

So THIS is why I couldn't find Schweddy Balls at my local Stop & Shop? I thought it was because Ben and Jerry's was limiting distribution.

I want to find these meddling broads and kick 'em in the clam.

You and me both!!!!! I can't find it anywhere in my city, and believe me, I LOOKED EVERYWHERE!!! Oddly enough, I did score some, when visiting my parents in the midwest. At Walmart, of all places.

Only place local to me I haven't checked are the scoop shops. I don't want to make a separate trip downtown, but damn, that was good ice cream.

[BravaAmica]

These women need to get a grip and a life, oh and a sense of humor.

I want to know how they sit comfortably with such big sticks up their asses.

[Effie]

Surprise surprise, One million moms are fans of Palin.

Christina: Love Sarah Palin. God bless her!!

5 hours ago · Like · 8 people

Anna Joy: LOVE! ♥ Such an amazing woman!

5 hours ago · Like · 4 people

Grace: Boycotting B&J is a statement. Same as with Home Depot. If you don't care that this world is going down the drain, then why are you on OMM? As for Sarah Palin? God Bless her! She's the only one out there not willing to give up her morals to suite everyone else. Kudo's to her!

5 hours ago · Like · 10 people

Sarah: Whether or not you like Sarah Palin, she does stand for her faith, her family, and has courage. 5 hours ago · Like · 3 people

[emmiedahl]

How does she stand by her family? If I were her, I would have been taking care of my sick baby, getting specialist opinions and special therapies that can make a huge difference in the long-term outcome of a person with Down Syndrome. Not campaigning for President. And I am an "anti-family" feminist.

[GeoBQn]

I've hated this group ever since I learned of their campaigns to try to get shows like Family Guy and American Dad off the air. News to OMM:

1. I am 27 years old. You have no right to control what I watch.

2. Animation =/= kids show.

3. Television is only one of many factors that effects how a child will end up as an adult. Watching the Simpsons ever since it first aired when I was 5 years old did not turn me into an axe murderer.

[lilwriter85]

I've hated this group ever since I learned of their campaigns to try to get shows like Family Guy and American Dad off the air. News to OMM:

1. I am 27 years old. You have no right to control what I watch.

2. Animation =/= kids show.

3. Television is only one of many factors that effects how a child will end up as an adult. Watching the Simpsons ever since it first aired when I was 5 years old did not turn me into an axe murderer.

OMM's campaigns against different TV shows are what irks me the most about them. They and groups like PTC and L. Brent Bozell's group have the belief that the entertainment industry has a 24/7 obligation to always be family friendly. Not everyone wants everything to family friendly all the time. Forms of entertainment before television weren't always family friendly.

[sugaree]

How does she stand by her family? If I were her, I would have been taking care of my sick baby, getting specialist opinions and special therapies that can make a huge difference in the long-term outcome of a person with Down Syndrome. Not campaigning for President. And I am an "anti-family" feminist.

Or you know, she also could have finished out the term for which she was elected. I am sure that would have taken no more time away from her family than her very full schedule of speaking engagements and television appearances does.

[Austin]

Do they not understand that this has backfired on them? B&J reports that it's their most popular limited edition flavor. I know I would not know about it at all if OMM not made a fuss. Some stores not carrying it won't make any difference; in fact, if it's harder to find, the more desirable it becomes. I'm not sure how this is a victory for OMM.

[lilwriter85]

Do they not understand that this has backfired on them? B&J reports that it's their most popular limited edition flavor. I know I would not know about it at all if OMM not made a fuss. Some stores not carrying it won't make any difference; in fact, if it's harder to find, the more desirable it becomes. I'm not sure how this is a victory for OMM.

They might know about B&J reporting that Schweddy Balls is most popular limited edition flavor, but they are probably ignoring that and are probably glad that some stores didn't carry the flavor. I agree they don't realize that the harder the product is hard, the desire grows. They are just helping the flavor get more popularity. If there are more articles about the some stores not carrying the flavor, some people who are not familiar with the SNL sketch, may want to see how it tastes and they will go around asking different stores if they are carrying the flavor and stores might end up wanting to sell it. OMM like PTC and other groups don't realize that their boycotts have the ability to make certain things get popularity. OMM, and PTC never learned from the Terri Rakolta incident.

[mystweaver]

Do they not understand that this has backfired on them? B&J reports that it's their most popular limited edition flavor. I know I would not know about it at all if OMM not made a fuss. Some stores not carrying it won't make any difference; in fact, if it's harder to find, the more desirable it becomes. I'm not sure how this is a victory for OMM.

This. I usually ignore the limited edition flavors (after getting hooked on one and realizing it was never coming back :violin:), but after all the anti-hype, I might drive myself to Ben and Jerry's (or the overpriced specialty grocery store down the street that always carries the limited edition flavors) and try it.

[clibbyjo]

I cannot find it anywhere. I want it. I have a Ben and Jerry's pint cover I bought from their factory and everything. I deserve some "schweddy balls".(don't even.... I have heard all the responses to that. :/)