Taco Bell pulled a “controversial” commercial from the air this week.

The reason the ad was so controversial: It made fun of fruits and vegetables.

According to the commercial, partygoers secretly hate guests who bring vegetables to a soiree. “It’s like punting on fourth and one,” the ad said.



Over the weekend, nutrition and health advocacy group the Center for Science in the Public Interest encouraged people to tweet their complaints about the commercial, The Huffington Post reported. Among the tweets:

Don't let these commercials lie to you. If you bring Taco Bell to a party everybody will hate you.

— D'Brickashaw (@DragonflyJonez) January 27, 2013

If you showed up at my party w/ a @tacobell variety pack, I'd ask that you leave and never come back.

— Joe Lipari ® (@JoeLipari) January 29, 2013

Taco Bell pulled the ad. Rob Poetsch, a spokesman for the fast feeder, told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: “We didn't want anyone to misinterpret the intent of the ad.”

Margo Wootan, the nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the organization was “delighted” Taco Bell pulled the ad. According to a statement from Wootan issued on Monday:

“It’s bad enough that there aren’t many ads on television for broccoli, kale, or carrots. The last thing healthy fruits and vegetables needed was to be the subject of attack ads … Thanks to Taco Bell for responding with record speed to address nutritionists’ and consumers’ concern over this ad campaign.”

Publicist and author Mark Borkowski had a different take on the matter. In reference to the incident, he tweeted, “Pungent aroma of #Stunt.”