Splenda® Brand: Read Between the Headlines Challenge
About the Contest:
Over 100 scientific studies representing 20+ years of research support the safety of sucralose. Independent health authorities support that sucralose can be used as part of a healthy diet. Despite this overwhelming body of evidence, consumers are constantly being bombarded by media headlines questioning the safety of low calorie sweeteners (LCS), like sucralose. The misinformation about LCS is often attributed to research that uses unconventional or poorly designed methods, draws conclusions that don’t match the research question or are erroneously drawn. At the Splenda® Brand, we stand against this junk science and enlist the help of like-minded experts.
This sponsored challenge inspires you to develop your own content that debunks junk science about LCS. Participants are encouraged to leverage the tips and best practices from the Today’s Dietitian webinar sponsored by Splenda® featuring Yvette d’Entremont, MS (aka SciBabe) and Keri Gans, MS, RDN, CDN, titled, “Read Between the Headlines.” During the webinar, Yvette and Keri discussed practical strategies for evaluating levels of evidence and parsing headlines to identify questionable sources, and provided tips for debunking junk science with creativity and humor. If you missed the webinar, watch it here for free. Participants of this challenge are encouraged, but not required to watch the webinar.
The Criteria:
Each entry should address one or more of the following myths about LCS (please see Addendum):
- Low-calorie sweeteners are not safe.
- Low-calorie sweeteners cause cancer.
- Low-calorie sweeteners are not good/not safe for people with diabetes.
- Low-calorie sweeteners increase hunger and food intake, and/or cause you to crave sweets.
- Low-calorie sweeteners make you gain weight.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
- Nutritionist Diet Technician, Registered
- Nurse Practitioner
- Registered Nurse
- Medical Doctor
- Physician Assistant
- Pharmacist
- Certified Diabetes Educator
- Students in any of the above areas in programs at a college or university in the 50 United States or District of Columbia.
To Enter:
1) Each Entry should include the following information and needs to be emailed to DebunktheJunk@Ketchum.com by December 17, 2017.
Page 1:
On the first page, provide written copy and/or illustrations, images or pictures that busts one or more of the above myths using creativity and humor. This can be hand-drawn, or prepared in a Word document, PowerPoint slide, or equivalent.
Page 2:
- State the myth(s) (as listed in the Criteria) your content is debunking.
- Give us a line explaining the intent and who your audience is. (examples of study references for each myth are outlined in the addendum on pages 9-12).
Page 3:
Include your:
Name
Credentials
Professional role
Email address
Lastly, mark your acknowledgment that Splenda has rights to share Page 1 Submissions on all Splenda channels, with credit provided (e.g., developed by [name of entrant]).
2) Would love for you to share the content, illustrations, images or pictures from Page 1 of your entry (details above) on Instagram or Facebook tagging @Splenda and using the hashtags #debunkthejunk and #contest. The link to the post can be included in Page 3 of your entry. Sharing on Facebook and/or Instagram is encouraged, but not required, and will not affect your submission’s rating.
Entrants are permitted to submit up to three different entries each.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact DebunktheJunk@Ketchum.com for further clarification.
Judging Criteria:
A panel of judges, including the Splenda® team, will rate submissions based on the following criteria:
Content Creativity and Humor 30%
Content Accuracy 30%
Myth-busting Explanation 20%
Use of References 20%
Winners will be notified by February 15th, 2018.
Prize:
A prize will be awarded to a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner.
(1) 1st place: Monetary prize of $500
(2) 2nd place: Monetary prize of $300
(3) 3rd place: Monetary prize of $200
Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
Contest may only be entered in or from the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry. This Contest is governed exclusively by the laws of the United States. You are not authorized to participate in the Contest if you are not located within the 50 United States or District of Columbia.
1. How to Enter. To enter the “Read Between the Headlines” Contest (“Contest”) Entrants must (i) submit the three (3) pages described below under Entry Materials (each “Entry”) by email (as a PDF) to (DebunktheJunk@Ketchum.com), and (ii) would love for you to share the content, illustrations, images or pictures from Page 1 of the Entry described below to Instagram or Facebook using the hashtags #debunkthejunk and #contest (sharing on Facebook and/or Instagram is encouraged, but not required, and will not affect your submission’s rating) during the Contest Entry Period (defined below) in accordance with the following Entry Criteria and Submission Guidelines:
Entry Criteria:
Each entry should address one or more of the following myths about LCS (please see Addendum):
· Low-calorie sweeteners are not safe.
· Low-calorie sweeteners cause cancer.
· Low-calorie sweeteners are not good/not safe for people with diabetes.
· Low-calorie sweeteners increase hunger and food intake, and/or cause you to crave sweets.
· Low-calorie sweeteners make you gain weight.
· Entrants are not required to make mention of the Splenda® brand (but entrants could make such a reference if they choose to do so, although such references will not factor into the judges’ decisions and/or the judging criteria).
· Entrants are encouraged (but not required) to leverage the tips and best practices from the Today’s Dietitian webinar sponsored by Splenda® featuring Yvette d’Entremont, MS (aka SciBabe) and Keri Gans, MS, RDN, CDN, titled, “Read Between the Headlines.” Entrants may watch it here for free. For clarity, entrants are under no obligation to watch the webinar in order to participate in or win this Contest.
Entry Materials:
Each Entry should consist of three (3) pages:
Page 1:
On the first page, provide written copy and/or illustrations, images or pictures that busts one or more of the above myths using creativity and humor. This can be hand-drawn, or prepared in a Word document, PowerPoint slide, or equivalent.
Page 2:
· State the myth(s) (as listed in the Criteria) your content is debunking.
· Give us a line explaining the intent and who your audience is. (examples of study references for each myth are outlined in the addendum on pages 9-12).
Page 3:
Include your:
Name
Credentials
Professional role
Email address
Entrants can post the content, illustrations, images or pictures from Page 1 of the Entry to Instagram or Facebook using #debunkthejunk and #contest. The link to the live post may be included in Page 3 of the Entry. Sharing on Facebook and/or Instagram is encouraged, but not required, and will not affect your submission’s rating.
Entrants are permitted to submit up to three (3) different Entries each, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion.
The Entry must be submitted in the English language. All Entries and entry information shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Submissions” or each as a “Submission.” Submissions must comply with the Entry Criteria, the Submission Guidelines and the Content Restrictions (defined below). Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify this Contest in the event an insufficient number of entries are received that meet the minimum judging criteria. Entrants are permitted to submit up to three (3) different Submissions per entrant, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion.
By entering, each entrant warrants and represents the following with respect to his/her Submission: (a) Submission is entrant’s own creation; and (b) the Submission will not infringe on any rights of any third parties.
Entrant hereby understands and agrees that, by submitting a Submission, entrant grants Sponsor the right to re-share Page 1 of the Submission in accordance with these Official Rules; however, in such instance, Sponsor agrees to provide entrants with reasonable credit, such as ‘developed by [name of entrant].
For sake of clarity, providing a Submission constitutes entrant’s consent to grant Sponsor a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, create derivative works from, and display Page 1 of the PDF Submission in whole or in part, on a worldwide basis, and to incorporate it into other works, in any form, media or technology now known or later developed, including but not limited to on any and all Internet media, including Sponsor’s web sites and properties (e.g., http://splenda.com/) and on social networking sites (i.e., Facebook, YouTube, Twitter etc.), for any legal purpose whatsoever. PLEASE NOTE THAT BY SUBMITTING A SUBMISSION, ENTRANT GRANTS SPONSOR THE RIGHT TO POST PAGE 1 OF THE SUBMISSION ON ITS WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA SITES FOREVER WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL PERMISSION OR COMPSENSATION, EXCEPT SPONSOR AGREES TO PROVIDE THE ENTRANT WITH REASONABLE CREDIT FOR THE SUBMISSION AS SET FORTH IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES.
NOTE THAT ENTRANTS ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO SHARE THEIR SUBMISSIONS ONLINE OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA. NOTE FURTHER THAT SHARING A SUBMISSION ONLINE OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL NOT IMPACT OR IMPROVE ENTRANT’S STATUS IN THIS CONTEST OR ENTRANT’S ABILITY TO WIN THE CONTEST. HOWEVER, IF AN ENTRANT VOLUNTARILY CHOOSES TO SHARE ENTRANT’S SUBMISSION ONLINE OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ENTRANT SHOULD DISCLOSE THE FACT THAT ENTRANT CREATED THE SUBMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CONTEST, SUCH AS “I CREATED THIS CONTENT AS PART OF A CONTEST @Splenda IS SPONSORING ABOUT DEBUNKING JUNK SCIENCE.”
All entrants must have a valid email address. No automated entry devices and/or programs permitted. Receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled entries, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic. Only fully completed entry forms are eligible. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. Any attempt by any entrant to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different accounts, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that entrant’s entries and that entrant may be disqualified. In the event of a dispute, the authorized account holder of the email address used to register on the account will be deemed to be the entrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Each potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder.
2. Start/End Dates. Contest entry period begins on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 3:00:00 pm Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 11:59:59 pm ET (“Contest Entry Period”).
3. Eligibility. Participation open only to (i) Registered Dietitian Nutritionists; (ii) Nutritionist Diet Technicians, Registered; (iii) Nurse Practitioners; (iv) Registered Nurses; (v) Medical Doctors; (vi) Physician Assistants; (vii) Pharmacists; (viii) Certified Diabetes Educators; and (ix) Students currently enrolled full-time or part-time in the previously referenced programs (i-viii) at a college or university; each who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry and are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Employees, officers and directors of Heartland Food Products Group (“Sponsor”), the makers of Splenda® Sweeteners, and its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, advertising and promotion agencies, manufacturers or distributors of Contest materials, or members of the same household (whether related or not) of such employees/officers/directors are not eligible to enter. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.
4. Content Restrictions: By entering, each entrant agrees that his or her Submission conforms to the Content Restrictions as defined below and that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may remove any Submission and disqualify an entrant from the Contest if it believes, in its sole discretion that the entrant’s Submission fails to conform to the Contest Restrictions.
Content Restrictions:
· The Submission must be in English.
· The Submission must not contain material that violates or infringes any rights of any other party, including but not limited to copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or any other intellectual property rights;
· The Submission must not in any way disparage Sponsor or any other person or party;
· The Submission must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous;
· The Submission must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age;
· The Submission must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations of the United States or of any jurisdiction where Submission is created;
· The Submission cannot promote illegal drugs or firearms (or the use of any of the foregoing), or any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message;
· The Submission must be consistent with the image and values of Sponsor and be consistent with and satisfy the purpose of the Contest.
Each entrant acknowledges that other entrants may have used ideas and/or concepts in their Submission that may be similar in idea or concept to what is included in entrant’s Submission. Each entrant understands and agrees that he/she shall not have any claim against any other entrant or Sponsor arising out any such similarity or be entitled to any compensation because of any such similarity.
Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest, including, but not limited to, interpretation and application of these Official Rules. By entering the Contest, entrants fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.
5. Judging/Judging Criteria. At the beginning of 2018, all eligible Submissions will be judged by a panel of judges that have the required knowledge and experience to apply the judging panel’s judging criteria (defined below). All eligible Submissions will be judged by the judging panel based on the following judging criteria:
Content Creativity and Humor 30%
Content Accuracy 30%
Myth-busting Explanation 20%
Use of References 20%
The top three (3) Submissions based on the Judging Criteria will be deemed the Winners (subject to confirmation). In the event of a tie, the Winner will be determined based on the highest score in the Content Creativity and Humor category.
Prize:
A prize will be awarded to a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
(1) 1st place: Monetary prize of $500
(2) 2nd place: Monetary prize of $300
(3) 3rd place: Monetary prize of $200
IN NO EVENT WILL SPONSOR BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY USE, MISUSE, ACCEPTANCE OR POSSESION OF PRIZES. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE PRIZES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of all prizes combined: $1,000. Prizes will be awarded in the form of a check. Prizes are non-transferable. No substitutions or cash redemptions. In the case of unavailability of any prize, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. All taxes and expenses not specifically listed herein are the responsibility of the Winner. Limit one (1) Prize per person.
8. Notification. Potential Winners will be notified via email or telephone on or about February 15, 2018. Potential Winners may be required to sign and return, where legal, an Affidavit or Declaration of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release and/or rights transfer document (including transfer/assignment of rights in the Submission to Sponsor) within the time frame designated by Sponsor. Potential winners will be required to email Sponsor within five (5) calendar days to confirm his or her winning status. If a potential Winner cannot be contacted within five (5) calendar days of first notification attempt, if any component of the Prize or Winner/prize notification is returned as undeliverable, if any potential Winner rejects his/her Winner position, or potential Winner rejects his/her Prize or in the event of noncompliance with these Contest rules and requirements, such Winner’s position/Prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to the Submission with the next highest score. Upon forfeiture, no compensation will be given.
9. Conditions. Submissions may be cut, edited, reformatted, rearranged, combined with other materials and/or otherwise modified, in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion. Any and all federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. Participation in Contest and/or acceptance of Prize constitutes winner’s permission for Sponsor to use his/her name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information, Submission and/or any statements made by winner regarding the Contest or Sponsor for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. By participating, entrants and winner agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, Ketchum Inc., Instagram, Facebook, and their advertising and promotion agencies and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, (the “Released Entities”) from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of Prize or participation in any Contest-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action. Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules, or attempt to interfere with this Contest in any way shall be disqualified. Sponsor is not responsible if Contest cannot take place or if any Prize cannot be awarded due to travel cancellations, delays or interruptions due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disasters, weather or acts of terrorism.
10. Additional Terms. Any attempted form of entry other than as set forth above is prohibited; no automatic, programmed; robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. The Released Entities are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet, or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Contest, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Contest should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, Sponsor will select the winners from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or web site. Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Contest or winning Prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or Sponsor representatives.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
11. Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties. IN NO EVENT WILL THE RELEASED ENTITIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE ANY WEBSITES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST OR DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY WEBSITES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THIS CONTEST AND ALL PRIZES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
12. Disputes; Governing Law. The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules, including, without limitation, the Contest. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Official Rules and/or the Contest shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of New York, City of New York.
THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES. For any matters which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these Official Rules and/or in connection with the entering of any judgment on an arbitration award in connection with these Official Rules and/or the Contest, the parties irrevocably submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in or closest to the County of New York in the State of New York. The parties agree not to raise the defense of forum non convenient.
13. Use of Data. Sponsor may be collecting personal data about entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review the Sponsor’s privacy policy at https://www.splenda.com/privacy. By participating in the Contest, entrants hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.
14. List of Winners. To obtain the list of winners, send an email to DebunktheJunk@Ketchum.com after February 15th, 2018 but before April 1st, 2018.
15. Sponsor. Heartland Food Products Group, the makers of Splenda® Sweeteners, 14300 Clay Terrace Blvd., Suite 249, Carmel, IN 46032.
THIS PROMOTION IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR ADMINISTERED BY, OR ASSOCIATED WITH, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK. YOU ARE PROVIDING YOUR INFORMATION TO SPONSOR AND NOT TO INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK.
In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between the statements contained in any Contest materials and the terms and conditions of the Official Rules, the Official Rules shall prevail, govern and control.
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Addendum:
Splenda® strives to help people enjoy a sweet life without all the calories from added sugar by offering products, recipes and tips for a healthier lifestyle. For the latest research on low calorie sweeteners, patient educational materials, product samples (including new Splenda® Naturals Stevia Sweetener) or to sign up for our new HCP toolkit, visit www.SplendaProfessional.com
| MYTH | RATIONALE |
| Low-calorie sweeteners are not safe. Low-calorie sweetener cause cancer. |
References:
|
| Low-calorie sweeteners can contribute to diabetes. |
References:
|
| Low-calorie sweeteners increase hunger and food intake, and/or cause you to crave sweets. |
References:
|
| Low-calorie sweeteners make you gain weight. |
References:
|
All third party trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.
© Heartland Consumer Product LLC