‘Fortified Junk Food Is Still Junk Food’

The marketers of self-deception are kicking into high gear this year. No, I’m not talking about politicians, rather purveyors of food.

Not only are food companies attacking any and all that criticize them, they’ve launched a two-pronged attack on the American psyche. On one front, the marketing geniuses – and I mean that with total sincerity – at food companies are repackaging kid-targeted products as “reduced sugar” or “vitamin fortified.” On the second front, junk-food chains have sparked a rebellion among those sick of being told how to eat by promoting monster burgers and other equally unhealthful food.

I almost started laughing when I saw a photo of Hershey’s Syrup with Calcium packaged with this Washington Post story. Other supposed healthy junk food hitting the shelves: reduced-sugar Cocoa Puffs and Pillsbury sugar-free chocolate chip cookie dough.

“What we’re trying to do is provide a nutritional profile that appeals to moms and a taste profile that appeals to kids,” Juli Mandel Sloves, a spokeswoman for Campbell Soup Co., tells the Post. Um yeah, right.

“Fortified junk food is still junk food,” responds Margo G. Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “Is it better to give your child crackers fortified with calcium, or carrots or an apple?”

CSPI is the same group I took to task just the other day for letting food companies walk all over them. In fact, the Post story, which seems to be a response to the CSPI press conference, inadvertently touts fast-food chains for improving their children’s menus:

The scramble to put new products in the grocery store comes as fast-food restaurants have revamped their menus to attract more health-oriented families. Children’s meals now come with a choice of fries or fresh fruit and, sometimes, applesauce. For drinks, they can choose soda, apple juice or milk.

It goes on, but you get the idea.

Meanwhile, fast-food chains are playing the other side of the fence by offering monstrosities such as the Hardee’s Monster Thickburger, which include two one-third-pound beef patties totaling a whopping 1,420 calories, reports the Los Angeles Times.

What really cracks me up, is the Center for Science in the Public Interest pops up again in the Times story:

“The Hardee’s Monster Thickburger is up there in the restaurant hall of shame,” said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which accused Hardee’s of engaging in “sinister marketing efforts” with its promotions for the burger.

But last laugh goes to the food chains, because such offerings as oversized burgers are winning the hearts of mostly male morons who dislike the media telling them what they can or cannot eat. Read this, and you will understand the mentality:

“While other restaurants were a bunch of Nancy-boys and became low-carb cowards in the face of moronic ‘they made me fat’ lawsuits, you did the AMERICAN thing,” John Frensley, a 22-year-old college student from Texas, wrote in an e-mail, “by spitting in the face of lawyers, nutritionists and food-nazi types and offering a monument to Americanism.”

Hey, John, if you want your body to become gelatinous goo, be my guest. Texans apparently like being big, as Men’s Fitness Magazine found out. Let’s see how you feel a few years from now when you have a 5-year-old toddler who weighs 120 pounds and needs daily insulin-shots and high blood pressure medicine as a result of being obese.

But then you would probably complain, “why didn’t anyone tell me?” On the other hand, you have a ready made job with the food firms and their marketing lackeys. Congratulations!

Comments

[MarkS]

I try to avoid fast food when I can, but I did end up Wendy's the other day.

I thought this was a positive change: They now allow you to switch out the french fries on their combo meals, and you can replace them with a chili, side salad, ceaser side salad, or a baked potato.

[brettdl]

I saw that they do, but you're probably the exception, not the rule when it comes to people who use the option.

I remember when Wendy's used to have this huge salad bar. I loved it, but then they canceled it after a few months. Let's see how long they let you to swap sides.

[Gooch]

Reminds me of that controversy a few months back when KFC went on the rather asinine kick of somehow trying to tout their greasy fried chicken as a health food

[brettdl]

Yeah, that is one of my all-time favorites.

[Autumn]

I too am a Wendy's fan of their new trades. I usually get a salad and juice with my meal. Of course, I usually get a grilled chicken sandwich too.

[brettdl]

Well, I guess I'll have to check it out.