Though I'm a big fan, I don't really consider myself a Pokémon collector, the way I collect My Little Pony. I own very few trading cards, an incomplete set of first movie premiums, a select few Nintendo games, an adorable plush talking Pikachu, and a few other favorite things including a Pokémon C-Watch from 1999 that still wakes me up every morning. But there is one kind of item of which I have quite the Pokémon collection, and it's one that's surrounded by controversy, in a society where people are more likely to sue the manufacturer¹ rather than use their own judgement - character-based novelty food items. Long before and long since after the few short years grocery store shelves were lined with Pokémon cereal, Pokémon Pop-tarts, Pokémon mac & cheese, Pokémon Popsicles, Pokémon waffles, and Pokémon jam, extreme special interest groups and angry parents have been fighting to keep characters out of our supermarkets and the corresponding foods out of kids' reach. Now I won't argue that marshmallows and sugary glaze are nutritious or anything, but health issues seem to be just a cover for parents to condemn the characters they are already against, having become even more evident based on the growing trend in which popular characters are featured on healthier foods (fruits, veggies, etc.), and they're still complaining². However, because this type of advertising usually takes place during the character-of-the-hour's 'fad' era (1999-2000 for Pokémon), parents shouldn't really get too upset since most of these products are offered for a limited time only, so it's unlikely that a box of Spongebob, Dora, or Pokémon cereal will have your kids eating like May's Munchlax. My advice is to 1) buy the product once, 2) allow your kids (or yourself!) the occasional indulgence if you choose, then 3) save the box, and you've got a collectible you can keep forever. And while this issue may no longer apply to Pokémon (but, wait...look!* DP Sinnoh Region Kraft Mac & Cheese!! [4/08]), there's always another wave of up-and-coming characters that'll find their way into our kitchens...whether they end up on your plate is up to you!

*photo coming soon!

¹"Can We Stop Advertisers from Targeting Children-and Encouraging Obesity?" article published in Vegetarian Times magazine (September 2006); includes info on a study that names character-based food items as the sole cause for childhood obesity and a lawsuit against Kellogg's over Spongebob Squarepants cereal.
²"Can Children's TV Favorites Get Them to Taste More Veggies?" article published in The Star Ledger (September 12, 2007); explains how despite manufacturers' best efforts to market healthy foods featuring Spongebob, Dora & Diego, etc., parents and experts are still unhappy with the characters' appearances on food packaging.