by KYW's Michelle Durham
One high-ranking Philadelphia narcotics officer is publicly denouncing the manufacturer of a breath candy because its packaging bears a resemblance to the crack cocaine he sees being sold on city streets.
Chief inspector William Blackburn (right) explains why he's so angry:
"This product in itself glorifies the drug trade in the city of Philadelphia. When you see the problems this city has with drugs and the associated violence, and then you see a product like this on shelves in stores, it's despicable. There's absolutely no explanation whatsoever for selling this type of product."
The "Ice Breakers" mints, made by Hershey, are contained in small blue dissolving packets, and look so similar to crack envelopes that Blackburn couldn't believe his eyes. Neither, he says, could his fellow police officers:
"I actually went to the store and purchased several containers of it and I showed it to many of my colleagues. They too were appalled. They too thought I had a controlled substance."
Hershey spokesperson Kirk Saville says the company has a longstanding commitment to consumer safety. He says they've gotten positive feedback about the product and it's clearly marked as candy:
"The feedback from consumers is that they love the product. It combines popular dissolving breath strips with a sweetener, Xylitol, that is used in many sugar-free products.
"We have a longstanding commitment to consumer safety, product quality, and responsible packaging. The product is clearly labeled with product identification, ingredients, and nutritional information, and is clearly branded as an Ice Breakers item. The Ice Breakers logo appears on each individual mint for easy identification."
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