# Sketchy marketing BS you've seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 29, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234 "2015-01-29T16:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/41 "2015-01-30T16:34:49Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > The “lite” serving size is exactly the same as the regular, but each and every value - calories, vitamins, all that stuff - was cut exactly in half. Could be worse. It was once common to go “lite” by cutting the serving size… because the diet-conscious would only drink half or so of a can, right? > [@](#): > > Yep. They’re taking their juice, diluting it in half with water, and selling it for the same price as “lite” juice. You know, in case you don’t have water at home to do it yourself. And probably is worse, in that they are certainly adding something to boost the flavor, and it’s probably not 100% Pure Goodness. Compare the labels and ingredients VERY carefully and you’ll spot it. (Care to post the exact product names so I can look up the labels online?) V8 is, of course, whopping in sodium… I remember looking at the standard-sized cans when they came out and it was something like 1300 or 1600 mG per can. (And the low-sodium stuff tastes awful.) A produce best enjoyed as originally marketed, in a tiny can and occasionally. One of the huge downsides of the nutrition “black box” getting more rigorous over the years is that the FDA et al. have all but conceded enforcement of the rest of the label. In an era of continually shrinking budgets and personnel (did you know that chicken inspectors are about to be reduced by half - I almost wrote “cut in half” there, but…) they can focus on something like honesty and completeness in the black box and not much else. Hence the proliferation of complete BS in the art portion of the labels - because the producers can primly point to the black box and assure us they don’t think consumers are stupid. (_cough Nutella cough_) ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/42 "2015-01-30T16:44:09Z")
Wait, what’d Nutella do? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/43 "2015-01-30T16:44:42Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > In a convenience store last week I purchased a glass bottle of what was labeled “Pure Cranberry Juice." In the car I read the ingredients and was surprised to see HFCS listed. Turns out the brand name was “Pure." (I’m fairly certain it said juice and not cocktail) You just need to read more carefully. Says cocktail right on the label. [![](http://media.shopwell.com/gladson/00072718100358_full.jpg) ](http://media.shopwell.com/gladson/00072718100358_full.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/44 "2015-01-30T16:50:45Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > A gym opened in my city that advertised memberships for “Only $10 per month\*” so my hairdresser checked it out. Apparently it’s $10 per month … and $40 to keep that rate. > > Her: “So it’s $50 per month.” > Gym guy: “No, the membership is $10 per month, the $40 is to lock in that rate.” > Her: “…” I swear people just don’t listen or read properly. [https://membership.planetfitness.com/NewMemberInformation.aspx?OfferID=OJWBDX](https://membership.planetfitness.com/NewMemberInformation.aspx?OfferID=OJWBDX) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/45 "2015-01-30T16:56:34Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Wait, what’d Nutella do? Cover the black box and rely on the label to tell you what’s inside, especially with the large jars stocked right next to the peanut butter. Especially with the pretty little green sprig in the label design and most of the copy framing it. Then read the nutrition label. Nutella is 40%+ sugar, 40%+ palm oil, \<13% ground dried hazelnuts and a smidgen of “cocoa and skim milk.” It’s worse than most chocolate frosting in a can - candy in a bottle, which is how it’s sold and presented in Europe, as a tidbit taste treat. Here, it’s been positioned, literally and in its label content, as an alternative to PB, and sold in _kilo_ jars. With a label identifying it as “a hazelnut spread with cocoa and skim milk.” (Which it is not, in Europe; nothing much about the European labels presents it as anything but spreadable candy.) (PB, by the way, has to be 95% ground peanuts to qualify for the name. So even brands considered to be “loaded with sugar” have less, by weight, than most processed foods on the shelf.) It’s about like packaging and promoting Snickers bars as “a peanut food” with every stylistic and innuendo you can cram in to imply it’s a great healthy alternative. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/46 "2015-01-30T17:03:33Z")
As long as we’re taking down commercially produced juice, there’s that whole thing about [all orange juice being artificially flavored](http://gizmodo.com/5825909/orange-juice-is-artificially-flavored-to-taste-like-oranges). ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/47 "2015-01-30T17:14:45Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > As long as we’re taking down commercially produced juice, there’s that whole thing about [all orange juice being artificially flavored](http://gizmodo.com/5825909/orange-juice-is-artificially-flavored-to-taste-like-oranges). That article tries to give the impression that the “artificial flavor” is some lab experiment. it’s not. It’s essentially concentrated orange zest, extracts, and oils, which come from… oranges. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/48 "2015-01-30T17:24:01Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Not sure how many people remember Stan Freberg’s ad for Chun King Chinese food (in cans, yuck). The gimmick was “Nine out of ten doctors recommend Chun King.” > > Nine of the doctors were Chinese. Or Chun King itself. It was developed by Jeno Paulucci, the same guy who sold Jeno’s Pizza Rolls. Paulucci added various seasonings used in Italian cooking to the Chun King recipe. ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/49 "2015-01-30T17:35:42Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > Junior Mints boxes used to say(maybe still do) a fat free food. Sure 100% sugar. Junior Mints are not fat free. Here’s the nutritional info: > **[Junior Mints - Tootsie](https://tootsie.com/products/junior-mints/)** > > Junior Mints, America’s favorite chocolate-covered mint since 1949, blend dark chocolate and creamy peppermint. Famous for its appearance in Seinfeld, the candy remains a movie theater favorite. Now part of the Tootsie family, more than 15 million... But I had thought of the same thing - candy that says it’s fat free. Here’s an example: [![](http://www.morhealthcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Fat-Free-Candy.jpg) ](http://www.morhealthcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Fat-Free-Candy.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/50 "2015-01-30T17:51:49Z")
> [@bump](#): > > So I was looking for some feta cheese a while back, and ran across a brand with a suitably Greek name, and the words “Imported” on it. So I picked it up to get a better look at the actual quantity in the tub, and noticed that the cheese was actually produced in… Argentina! Not at all Greek, but definitely imported. > > I got to wondering what other sketchy marketing tricks people see on products and ads? Anyone got any good ones? Well, the canonical example of a product that implies that it’s foreign and exotic is Haagen Dazs ice cream (umlaut omitted). Which was made in the exotic Bronx, NY. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/51 "2015-01-30T17:53:15Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Well, the canonical example of a product that implies that it’s foreign and exotic is Haagen Dazs ice cream (umlaut omitted). Which was made in the exotic Bronx, NY. Ginsu knives are another. I believe both Ginsu and Haagen-Dazs were made-up words as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/52 "2015-01-30T17:54:35Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Could be worse. It was once common to go “lite” by cutting the serving size… because the diet-conscious would only drink half or so of a can, right? I can’t remember the comedienne’s name, but she noticed that Snickers bars were labelled as 2 servings. > [@](#): > > I don’t think I could sleep knowing there was half a Snickers bar in the house. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/53 "2015-01-30T18:22:40Z")
I do my mother’s grocery shopping along with my own. Since her doctors have put her on a sodium restricted diet I’ve become very aware of the nutritional labels and especially aware of the portion sizes. I may look at something and see a relatively low sodium content until I realize that it’s per teaspoon or some other ridiculously small serving size. I often see things labeled “lower sodium”. Lower than what? Usually lower than the standard version of the product, which oftens contains an ungodly amount of sodium. So the “lower sodium” version contains 1/2 an ungodly amount of sodium which is still way more than she should have. These companies are deliberately trying to mislead people about the quantity of an ingredient that could be dangerous to people with heart disease. Yes, it’s possible to determine the truth by carefully reading the label, but they deliberately make is as difficult as they legally can. That’s low. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/54 "2015-01-30T19:14:58Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Ginsu knives are another. I believe both Ginsu and Haagen-Dazs were made-up words as well. How about Chrüterchraft and Fahrvergnügen ? ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/55 "2015-01-30T19:16:51Z")
I grew up near Princeton, New Jersey. A lot of businesses in my town were called “Princeton” this or that. Years ago, Princeton’s mayor suggested making them pay a fee for doing so. Our town pointed out that we were actually older than Princeton. As far as I knew, nothing came of the suggested fee. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/56 "2015-01-30T20:01:26Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > John 3:16 This is one of those “While you may think that, technically, this answer applies, it’s still frowned upon to post due to the potential to cause religious hijacks/debates”. If you’re really looking for just a religious debate (of any kind), you’re probably better off just starting your own thread. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/57 "2015-01-30T20:10:14Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > That article tries to give the impression that the “artificial flavor” is some lab experiment. it’s not. It’s essentially concentrated orange zest, extracts, and oils, which come from… oranges. Which isn’t actually “artificial flavor” at all. Flavor additives derived from the actual things they taste like are “natural flavors.” ETA: Although, in the case of the from-concentrate brands mentioned, it looks like the flavor additives fall within the labeling standard of “orange juice concentrate,” so they aren’t broken out as “added flavors” of any description. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/58 "2015-01-30T20:40:51Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Which isn’t actually “artificial flavor” at all. Flavor additives derived from the actual things they taste like are “natural flavors.” > > ETA: Although, in the case of the from-concentrate brands mentioned, it looks like the flavor additives fall within the labeling standard of “orange juice concentrate,” so they aren’t broken out as “added flavors” of any description. Yeah, that one doesn’t really bug me so much; I wouldn’t be surprised if the companies have managed to extract the flavor compounds as part of the deaeration process, and turn around and just put them back in more consistent proportions to get the flavor profile they want. It’s kind of analogous to old German beer using special malt-based colorants and hop extracts to stay within the letter of the Reinheitsgebot; technically, the beer was nothing but water, yeast, malt and hops, but in reality, they were tweaking the color and flavor after the fact so that say… that bottled Oktoberfest was always that same orange-brown shade and equally bitter from batch to batch and year to year. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/59 "2015-01-30T20:50:49Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I do my mother’s grocery shopping along with my own. Since her doctors have put her on a sodium restricted diet I’ve become very aware of the nutritional labels and especially aware of the portion sizes. I may look at something and see a relatively low sodium content until I realize that it’s per teaspoon or some other ridiculously small serving size. > > I often see things labeled “lower sodium”. Lower than what? Usually lower than the standard version of the product, which oftens contains an ungodly amount of sodium. So the “lower sodium” version contains 1/2 an ungodly amount of sodium which is still way more than she should have. > > These companies are deliberately trying to mislead people about the quantity of an ingredient that could be dangerous to people with heart disease. Yes, it’s possible to determine the truth by carefully reading the label, but they deliberately make is as difficult as they legally can. That’s low. Not really, it pretty much means what it says. Lower sodium is not the same thing as low sodium. There are separate designations for low and salt-free products. I can’t see how this is an attempt to deliberately mislead anyone. All in all, I’ve been pretty disappointed in the examples of sketchy marketing in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234/60 "2015-01-30T21:00:53Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > As long as we’re taking down commercially produced juice, there’s that whole thing about [all orange juice being artificially flavored](http://gizmodo.com/5825909/orange-juice-is-artificially-flavored-to-taste-like-oranges). If it says 100% orange juice, what’s inside is 100% from oranges. That juice is extracted, held at near-freezing temps, blended to produce an even taste and then punched up with fresh zest and oils from a later batch is as irrelevant as noting that “aging” meat means, precisely, hanging it in a cold locker to let it slowly rot into a tender state. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sketchy-marketing-bs-youve-seen/711234.md?page=4)