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New ads deride NYC for attack on junk food
We haven't seen enough 1984 references lately, so let's thank the Center for Consumer Freedom (an advocacy group funded by food companies) for giving the world this sarcastic Big Apple/Big Brother poster in response to the New York City Health Department's nanny-state campaign against junk food. Granted, NYC's human-fat ad was a tad ghoulish, but it's hardly a stretch for a health department to publicly oppose unhealthy eating habits. In its broader campaign, which goes beyond NYC, the CCF is out to defend high-fructose corn syrup. It includes the commercial below, in which a man examines a police lineup of three sweeteners—high-fructose corn syrup, sugar and honey—but is unable to tell which of them caused his weight gain. Of course, the only reason anyone uses high-fructose corn syrup is because it's cheaper and easier to transport, but the truth often gets lost in hen fights like these. Via Gothamist. —Posted by David Kiefaber Previously on AdFreak: |
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October 1, 2009 in Food and drink, Health, Kiefaber | Permalink |
Comments
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I don't really think the point is whether or not the NYC ad was ghoulish. The bigger issue is why we need these ads at all and why we are spending any taxpayer money on non-essential services like these. It's none of the city's business what you eat.
If there is anything that keeps New Yorkers eating McDonald's for lunch, outside of their own desire to do so, it is the Federal, State and City withholding from their weekly paychecks. The more money NY'ers are allowed to keep (by cutting any & all programs - like this ad campaign for instance) the better quality of food they will be able to afford.
One may read this and think, "yeah, right..." - but a radical reduction in Federal, State and City taxes amounts to hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars in your pocket over the course of a year; and that makes a big difference in your life.
That money will go toward gyms, healthy food and higher education. Studies have shown that people with higher education tend to live healthier lifestyles and avoid obvious bad habits like smoking.
The bottom line is we don't need the city preaching to us. It's an ineffective campaign and measuring the efficacy of these types of general PSA's is practically impossible. City budget-makers chalk it up to "creating awareness" and think they've accomplished something. The only definitive thing they have accomplished is spending our money.
Posted by: Jeff | Oct 1, 2009 5:03:06 PM
I appreciate the calorie list.
Consumers have a right to know, and have it be available, just like we have a right to know the ingredients of what we're consuming.
Posted by: T | Oct 1, 2009 11:06:31 PM
