Can a Beer Company Tell Us How to Get Healthy?
In environmental speak, it's called greenwashing - taking an existing product and spinning its environmentally-friendly virtues - even if there are none.
In the food world we often get marketers claiming unsubstantiated health benefits, or taking a food product and wrapping it up with a get fit message that seems incongruous with the product.
Last week I was sent a health resolutions booklet from Anheuser-Busch. This really confused me as Anheuser-Busch is basically a beer company.
Is anyone else tired of this kind of marketing?
The booklet is an advertisement for a low-calorie beer, but is also a mini-magazine on how to live a healthy life.
Here's the thing: if we reduce our view of nutrition to nothing more than calories - we might as well eat granulated sugar all day every day. Provided we are under our daily calorie limit. We could call it a healthy lifestyle and encourage consumers to exercise. We could even spin sugar as a great food for energy (as was done in this vintage ad for sugar).
Anheuser-Busch managed to get Lance Armstrong on board. Although how are we supposed to identify with an elite athlete whose idea of exercise is a 6 hour cycle sprint?
By all means enjoy food and drink with friends. But just because a product has a "get healthy" booklet attached doesn't make the product any better for you. In fact I would argue that you won't do yourself any favors by consuming alcohol while attempting to lose fat.
Just like the new McDonald's commercials where they keep emphasizing images of lettuce and tomatoes, and talk about 'good' ingredients. Those annoy me!
ReplyThis annoys me as well. Another company that seems to be doing this a lot is Coca Cola. They tout Diet Coke as being a "healthy" beverage that keeps you hydrated and they support the American Heart Association. Sure, I suppose Diet Coke is better for you than regular Coke just like light beer is probably a better option than regular beer, but you have to call a spade a spade. Soda is soda, beer is beer. Acknowledge that it isn't healthy and just work it into your diet if you want to enjoy it.
ReplyWell Said! :)
ReplyIt also irritates the heck out of me that companies do this, and that it works. You just have to educate yourself to stay on top of them. When it comes down to it they are just trying to make money right? So they will say anything to make you buy their product.
I'm not a big drinker, but I am also not seeing the issue.
I've been watching this show alot called "Gen's Guiltless Gourmet" on the Ion Life network ( I think it is a new network that might not be available everywhere yet)
But anyways so chef Gen specializes in gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, organic, fat cuting, whatever...cuisine. But she always prepares a cocktail at the end of her show. So go figure.
ReplyI think you're also mentioning two different groups.
There are people that are health conscious that still enjoy drinking. A low calorie beer is a legitimate thing people want. And that there's enough pressure for companies to support these products and give health tips, is positive overall.
Now this would be opposed to the Lucky Charms incident, where, something that is clearly bad for you, is labeled as healthy (compared to donuts), while not changing the product at all....I see that as more of the problem.
If they're saying this beer will help you lose weight, that's obviously a lie, but from what I gathered (without seeing the booklet), is that they're just promoting a lite beer to health conscious consumers.
Reply>There are people that are health conscious that still enjoy drinking.
Absolutely there are - but why advertise a beer and imply that it is a staple part of a healthy diet. You could grab any old food and do the same thing. It's confusing and misleading.
ReplyIt's a bit like the advert we had here in the UK, suggesting Nutella is a healthy breakfast option for kids. It makes me so mad! Thankfully it's since been banned due to complaints.
I believe in all things in moderation, but it's extremely irresponsible of Nutella to imply their spread is healthier than it actually is.
ReplyThey have that ad in the States as well. I think it's kind of hilarious...Nutella is tasty, but I think it's more of a dessert or a treat and not exactly the best option for breakfast.
ReplyThe Lemonade Diet is the portion of The Master Cleanse during which you consume only the Lemonade. It is a diet in the sense that you are restricted to a certain food. The Lemonade Diet is often used synonymously with The Master Cleanse, but I break it down in order to describe the portion of The Master Cleanse when you consume the nutrients and energy from the Fresh Lemon Juice, Rich Maple Syrup, and organic Cayenne Pepper.
The other sections of The Master Cleanse are the Ease-In, The Lemonade Diet (of course), the Salt Water Flush, the Ease-Out, and the Post Cleanse Lifestyle.
This page is dedicated to the directions to The Lemonade Diet Recipe as well as the ingredients, expectations, problems and experiences myself and the readers of this website have encountered.
The Lemonade Diet begins with preparing the Lemonade. During the diet, you will only consume the Lemonade that you make each day. In order to ensure that it is fresh and will retain as much of the nutrients and energy as possible, you should prepare the Lemonade just moments before drinking it.
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