Choc-coated nudity OK, but vegetables too sexy

Nudity has been ruled okay under a chocolate coating, but not with vegetables, according to the Advertising Standards Authority.

The authority has upheld a complaint about an advert for animal rights organisation PETA promoting vegetarianism in a raunchy way, but declined a complaint about Whittaker's Dark Ghana and Peppermint chocolate showing a man and woman frolicking naked in pools of melted chocolate.

The PETA advert, sourced from the United States, was screened free of charge on Triangle TV channel Stratos just before 8pm. Three women took their coats off showing sexy lingerie underneath, and rubbed a range of vegetables over their bodies, with text on screen saying: "Studies show vegetarians have better sex".

Complainant C Radford said the advert was shown at a time when children might be watching, and the erotic imagery was inappropriate given the time of day and type of programming around the advertisement.

PETA said it did not object to its advert being shown, but had not requested or known it would be aired.

Triangle Television said the advert was played before a programme on four-wheel driving, and did not play during G-rated times. Stratos TV was unlikely to be watched by children, as it had no programmes aimed at younger viewers.

The authority found that while provocative, the advert would not cause serious and widespread offence. However, the overt sexual nature of the ad meant it should not be played outside of recognised adult viewing times.

The Whittaker's advert, which screened at 7.21pm on TV3, was at an inappropriate time and contained nudity that was rude and inappropriate, complainant Y Ualesi said. There were 15 other complainants.

The authority found that the advert had been carefully created to ensure that any nudity was fleeting and not gratuitous, and had a rating of General Except Children, allowing broadcast at any time except during programmes aimed at children younger than 13.

- NZPA