Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SEATTLE -- Eight organizations that promote health and nutrition will receive $165,315 as a result of an antitrust settlement with the manufacturer of the George Foreman Grill.

The state today filed the proposed cash distribution plan in U.S. District Court in New York following a September 2002 settlement between the grill manufacturer, Salton, Inc., and 44 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The states alleged that Salton tried to keep retailers from selling the grill at a reduced price.

Under the settlement agreement, approximately $8 million in settlement funds were distributed to the states to benefit health or nutrition-related programs for low-income people, seniors, children and others.

Organizations receiving funds range from The Strong Kids Program at Children's Hospital in Seattle to a Spokane education program that will use a dietician to analyze Washington restaurant menus so that customers can be provided with a nutritional guide to the foods offered.

The following organizations are included in the distribution:

 

1. Washington State University Coop Extension
The Food $ense Program 

  $38,625

 2. Children's Hospital
The Strong Kids Program

 $37,030
 3. Heart Institute of Spokane
THIS Community Education Program -Menu 2
 $26,450
 4. Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
(CHEF)
  $21,160
 5. Seattle Nutrition Action Consortium
SNAC
  $15,870
 6. DSHS-Aging and Disabilities Service Administration
Take Charge of Your Health Program 
  $10,580
 7. Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation
Passport to Health
 $10,600
 8. Obesity Initiative (BMI Project)
Body Mass Index Project 
 $ 5,000 
 Total Washington Distribution (approximately)  $165,315

 
Each of the funding recipients from this state's share of the distribution will submit annual reports to the Attorney General's Antitrust Division detailing how the funds have been used.

-30-

Topic: