WASHINGTON, USA - The White House has pounced on a set of ads advocating better nutrition in schools, demanding that they be pulled because they mention United States President Barack Obama's daughters, reported the Washington Post.

But the organisation behind the ads has refused to budge.

Fourteen large posters had gone up at Washington's Union Station last week.

On each, a thought bubble of a pretty eight-year-old reads: "President Obama's daughters get healthy school lunches. Why don't I?"

The ads were put up by the non-profit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), and feature Jasmine Messiah of Florida, who wants vegetarian or vegan lunch options in school.

Within 24 hours, two White House lawyers contacted the PCRM. Recalled PCRM president Neal Barnard: "They called and said, 'please take those down, you can't mention the kids, and so forth'.

"What they said was they wanted me to remove (the ads) voluntarily, but made it clear that they viewed this as something that could lead to legal action if I wasn't responsive."

Even though the names and photos of Sasha, eight, and Malia, 11, were not used, the mere mention was enough.

The girls attend Washington's private Sidwell Friends School.

Recalled Dr Barnard: "(The White House counsel) felt mentioning the President's children was off-limits...(and they're) not going to allow the use of the daughters as leverage."

A possible intrusion into the girls' privacy might also have rankled.

When toymakers Ty Inc debuted dolls in January dubbed Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke out. Ty dropped the names.

Even figures from the opposition Republican party supported the White House stance.

"The children of the President are always off-limits," Mr Frank Luntz, a Republican political consultant, told the Post.

Still, Dr Barnard said he intends to keep the ads up till the end of the month and said reaction to them had been positive.

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