# Weasel words in advertising/packaging
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 6, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564 "2017-03-06T18:52:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/1 "2017-03-06T18:52:26Z")
Basically as the title - what are some common weasel words used in ads and packaging, which sound good but tell you sweet fa about the product or its quality?
I’ve heard that ‘fight’ is one that means jack shit, especially in healthcare products like ‘fights plaque’ or somesuch, since I could ‘fight’ Tyson in his prime, but I ain’t gonna win.
Likewise ‘helps’, since I could’ve turned up to Hiroshima with a dustpan and brush, technically that would be helping but to minuscule effect.
Any other obvious ones?
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### Author:  [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/2 "2017-03-06T18:56:23Z")
“Creme”
This means that a product is not made with real dairy cream. I got had by this once, trying to make onion dip with “sour creme”. It was awful. I could tell that the product was very low quality.
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### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/3 "2017-03-06T19:19:13Z")
“Natural”. Doesn’t mean anything, either legally or logically. I guess anything that’s not supernatural is natural.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/4 "2017-03-06T19:42:57Z")
“Nothing is better for ----------.”
What this means is “We’re the same as everyone else.”
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### Author:  [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/5 "2017-03-06T19:58:17Z")
_New and improved_ means ‘we’ve added some useless crap to it so technically we can call it new and as for improved that’s so subjective as to be meaningless’.
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/6 "2017-03-06T20:07:12Z")
> [@boffking](#):
>
> “Creme”
> This means that a product is not made with real dairy cream. I got had by this once, trying to make onion dip with “sour creme”. It was awful. I could tell that the product was very low quality.
Along this line, watch out for “chocolaty” vs. “chocolate.” Chocolaty means chocolate-like, may contain some chocolate but probably is mostly artificial flavoring. Chocolaty is very popular in foods aimed at children and their less discriminating palates.
When in doubt, always read the ingredients.
Oh yeah, “cheese food” is not cheese.
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### Author:  [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/7 "2017-03-06T21:07:22Z")
Similarly, anything that’s described as “-flavor”. Cheese flavor, chocolate flavor. The flavors are usually some kind of chemical additive, not in fact cheese or chocolate.
One that I saw today but wasn’t actually a product: on the back of a truck that had a short ad looking for more drivers for the company. It said “top wages”. Yeah… top of what? If they really paid well they’d say something like market rate, or above market rates.
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### Author:  [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/8 "2017-03-06T21:14:27Z")
I’ve always loved “4 out of 5 dentists recommend sugarless gum to their patients who chew gum” line.
So, 80% of dentists aren’t recommending Trident, or even really sugarless gum in general, unless you are a chewer already. And 20% just don’t care.
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### Author:  [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/9 "2017-03-06T21:16:38Z")
“Many \_\_\_\_ recommend \_\_\_\_”
If 100 pediatrician recommend a product, that’s many. But a small fraction of the total.
I think if you say “most” you need evidence that at least 51% support, but I’m not even sure if that is true.
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### Author:  [@misling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misling)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/10 "2017-03-06T21:23:00Z")
In an old mystery novel, “Murder must advertise” by Dorothy Sayers, the advertising agency staff discuss the different meanings of “made from” and “made with”. (this is English advertising law of the time. I don’t know if it’s still relevant or if USA advertising has/had the same rule).
Anyway the rule was “Made From” on the label = has to be made from the actual ingredient. Example: Apple Cider “Made from fresh Apples” has to really be made from apples.
However “Made With” = there are probably some apples around the factory somewhere. Maybe. Or at least on the property.
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### Author:  [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/11 "2017-03-06T21:24:42Z")
Fat free. Usually means that it’s instead loaded up with sugar and additives to give it flavor and texture, so it’s got the same calories as the regular version.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/12 "2017-03-06T21:35:21Z")
Cheers for the replies fellas!
> [@JcWoman](#):
>
> Similarly, anything that’s described as “-flavor”. Cheese flavor, chocolate flavor. The flavors are usually some kind of chemical additive, not in fact cheese or chocolate.
>
> One that I saw today but wasn’t actually a product: on the back of a truck that had a short ad looking for more drivers for the company. It said “top wages”. Yeah… top of what? If they really paid well they’d say something like market rate, or above market rates.
Oh good god yes, the gulf between chocolate and CHOCOLATE flavour is vast. You’ve just reminding me of another one, fruit juice and fruit juice _drink_, the former being what it says and the latter could be possibly flavoured like the fruit in question.
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### Author:  [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/13 "2017-03-06T21:44:42Z")
- low fat
- toothpaste recommended by dentists
- leading supermarket/brand …
- premium
- patented
- proven
- good for you
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### Author:  [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/14 "2017-03-06T22:50:25Z")
Fresh - totally meaningless, it can even apply to thawed out from frozen.
Farm Fresh - but the farm is in Nairobi. Well - it was fresh when they harvested it.
New improved - as compared to what? Usually means smaller for the same price but in a different package.
Traditional. Means nothing.
100% beef/lamb/pork/iguana - yes it is [mostly] made from that animal, but using the bits that are too unspeakably horrible to sell as lumps of meat. There will also be a small percentage of salt, pepper and possibly sugar because without, it would taste vile.
Made by our craftsmen - probably children in a Bangladeshi sweat shop.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/15 "2017-03-06T22:53:49Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> “Nothing is better for ----------.”
>
> What this means is “We’re the same as everyone else.”
On a related note, there’s “best”. It’s the same principle. If every toothpaste, for example, does the same job then they’re all technically tied for being the best.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/16 "2017-03-06T22:57:09Z")
I seem to remember an ad that was something like “Save up to 30% or more!” I think it was an insurance company.
What the heck does that even mean? You could save less than 30%…or more than 30%!
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### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/17 "2017-03-06T23:34:53Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> Along this line, watch out for “chocolaty” vs. “chocolate.” Chocolaty means chocolate-like, may contain some chocolate but probably is mostly artificial flavoring. Chocolaty is very popular in foods aimed at children and their less discriminating palates.
>
> When in doubt, always read the ingredients.
>
> Oh yeah, “cheese food” is not cheese.
When we returned from Switzerland after a year someone gave my daughter a Hershey bar. She took one bite and spit it out saying, “This isn’t chocolate.” Discriminating indeed.
AFAIK, cheese food is processed from actual cheese. Fruit-ades consist of the actual juice plus sugar and maybe other ingredients. Read the label.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/18 "2017-03-06T23:48:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> On a related note, there’s “best”. It’s the same principle. If every toothpaste, for example, does the same job then they’re all technically tied for being the best.
No.
In order to call something the best, you must provide the FTC with documented proof that you’re better. That’s a difficult standard, so few companies do it.
The major exception is Hellmann’s Mayonnaise. They market it as Best Foods Mayonnaise in the west, so they can say “bring out the Best” because they argue they aren’t making a claim it’s best, but that it’s Best Foods.
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### Author:  [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/19 "2017-03-07T00:08:14Z")
Another note about fat-free, they can be playing with serving sizes to keep them below the threshold at which fat (or other ingredients) needs to be reported. That’s why spray cooking oil is advertised as “fat-free” or “for fat-free cooking” despite the product being 100% fat. By making the serving size a 1/4 second spray (700 servings per container!), the amount of fat falls below the threshold so it can be reported as zero. It makes you wonder how many other things they’re doing this to.
Also don’t forget “part of this complete breakfast” which I think speaks for itself.
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### Author:  [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weasel-words-in-advertising-packaging/781564/20 "2017-03-07T00:21:39Z")
> [@bob\_2](#):
>
> Fresh - totally meaningless, it can even apply to thawed out from frozen.
iIRC, Tyson successfully lobbied the USDA to be able to label frozen chickens as “deep chilled.”
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