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By SHARON FINK
Published June 23, 2005

SHE'S HAD WORSE PROBLEMS, BUT STILL . . .: Since 1997, Sarah Ferguson has been a dedicated advocate of Weight Watchers. She credits the program with helping her not only reach her goal weight but move her life from its lowest point, when she was overweight, in debt, miserable and under public siege in Britain after her divorce from Britain's Prince Andrew in 1996.

So how awkward was that moment Monday when her newest employer, French's Light GourMayo, presented her with the very large, very caloric sandwich it named after her?

"When I got (to New York's Stage Deli) and looked at this enormous baby whale - not a portion - sitting on a plate, I said, "You're going to have to change this sandwich,' " Ferguson told Sideshow in a phone interview Tuesday.

"They said, "Why?' I said, "I stand up for the fight against obesity, and you put a (Weight Watchers) 22-point sandwich under my name. It's gross hypocrisy. I can't for 10 years have worked hard to have kept my weight down and talk about the pros and cons of food for this.' So today they're changing it."

"IT'S MY FAULT': You'd think French's should have been more aware of the kind of sandwich it was linking to its spokeswoman, whom, you'd think, was hired to promote a low-cal product because of her high Weight Watchers profile.

But Ferguson took the blame, thinking she should have detailed what was and wasn't acceptable. "I always think everybody knows I'm with Weight Watchers," she said.

Ferguson, who said she's not really a condiment person, had never had GourMayo, a spiced-up version of one of America's favorite condiments, until French's came to her. "I tried it and thought it was really good," she said, adding the wasabi variety is her favorite. And it's only two Weight Watchers points per serving.

MAYONNAISE WITH A MESSAGE: Ferguson, 45, has become a prolific spokeswoman in her post-divorce years. Among the products she has pitched are Ocean Spray juices, Wedgwood china and the Westfield chain of shopping malls, which includes three in the Tampa Bay area.

She said the French's job gave her a chance to add another angle to her campaign against obesity.

"Most people love mayonnaise in America, but they need to know to halve the calories" by switching to a light variety, she said. "This is a good way of getting my voice out, to get out the Weight Watchers message, which is you don't have to diet to change your lifestyle.

"I decided to take on French's GourMayo as a vehicle to better lives."

BACK TO THE SANDWICH . . .: To promote its deal with Ferguson, French's held a create-a-sandwich contest. The winning entry would be named the Duchess of York and put on the menu at the Stage Deli (which is famous for its large portions).

The winner, Patrice Hurd of Bemidji, Minn., created something she called Focaccia Chicken Rolls with Mango Mint Dijon Salsa. It included shredded chicken, mango, English cucumber, green onions, chopped fresh mint leaves, assorted lettuce greens and Creamy Dijon GourMayo on a focaccia roll.

Under Ferguson's instructions, the sandwich is being remade for the Stage Deli in a smaller portion to include tuna on rye bread with arugula and wasabi GourMayo.

"At least I got them to the proper amount of (Weight Watchers) points," she said. "It's upholding what I believe."

Sharon Fink can be reached at 727 893-8525 or fink@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 23, 2005, 00:44:09]