Marketing Manipulation

UsedToBeHusky
UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I've seen it many times...

Companies make health claims about their products. Consumer laws are designed to prevent false advertising, BUT as long as the statement is based on truth, the claim is not false. Unfortunately, marketers use this to spin their products image and suggest something about the product that might not necessarily be true. As long as their claim is spawned from truth, it is perfectly legal, but inevitably it misleads the consumer.

Take for example 5-hour Energy's latest commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCqT3fdAAHQ

In this commercial, 5-hour Energy suggests that it is doctor recommended. But the reality is that doctor's recommended a low-calorie energy supplement IF you choose to take an energy supplement. Because 5-hour Energy is a low-calorie energy supplement, then they can use the doctor's recommendation to advance their product. They are legally allowed to do so as long as they do not claim that doctors recommend, specifically, 5-hour Energy to their patients.

I bring this up because I see many people do not understand how marketers can use health-related claims. And, even more so, I see many people actually draw the wrong conclusion about a product because of marketing manipulation tactics like this. I urge anyone new to the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle to be aware of this marketing tactic and do not allow yourself to be manipulated into thinking something to be true about a product that isn't.

So what do you all think about marketing manipulation? I'm sure there are some other really good examples out there.

Replies

  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    Other manipulations:

    no calories sweeteners...actually they are 2-3 calories per packet/serving

    Cereals claiming benefits of oats

    "Whole grain" kiddy cereals

    Foods claiming no trans fats or no cholesterol in products that NEVER had a CHANCE of having either

    Overuse of "natural" and "organic"

    The entire nutracutical industry
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Also, companies are allowed to label their product as trans-fat free as long as it has less than .5 grams...

    I don't agree with everything Men's Health publishes (and actually think they contribute to nutritional myths, fearmongering, and misinformation quite often) but here are a few examples of how food labeling laws are exploited by manufacturers.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41781646/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/confusing-food-labels-can-hide-diet-hazards/
  • VenomousDuck
    VenomousDuck Posts: 206
    they asked 3000 Drs

    of the few that responded to their dumbass question, 73% of the losers said, "yeah, whatever"

    so, what, about 10 Drs?
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    they asked 3000 Drs

    of the few that responded to their dumbass question, 73% of the losers said, "yeah, whatever"

    so, what, about 10 Drs?

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • Mallory0418
    Mallory0418 Posts: 723 Member
    they asked 3000 Drs

    of the few that responded to their dumbass question, 73% of the losers said, "yeah, whatever"

    so, what, about 10 Drs?

    Seems legit, fo sho.

    As someone who works in marketing, I see those ads and commercials as them doing their job, which means doing what they need to do to get people to want the product. A "doctor" (i.e. random man in a white doctor-ish coat) saying they approve of the product makes people feel secure that it's a good choice, making it a job well done on their marketing end. It all depends on how far they are willing to push "the truth" and still sleep well at night.

    As a consumer, I have to take off my magic un-reality glasses and see the world for what it really is and have some common sense. Those common sense people...makes us marketing wizards crazy! :wink:
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    random man in a white doctor-ish coat

    sexist...
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    Overuse of "natural" and "organic"
    Yes. And people also assume "natural" is automatically good for you (not just low cal or low sodium, etc). Some forget that dirty is natural too.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    "MATTRESS FIRM, OOOOOHHH AHHHHHH, Did you know your mattress could be making you fat?!?!" "My Matress is making me fat?!" "It's true, studies have shown people who dont receive enough good sleep.... blah blah blah"
  • Brunner26_2
    Brunner26_2 Posts: 1,152
    Other manipulations:

    no calories sweeteners...actually they are 2-3 calories per packet/serving

    Cereals claiming benefits of oats

    "Whole grain" kiddy cereals

    Foods claiming no trans fats or no cholesterol in products that NEVER had a CHANCE of having either

    Overuse of "natural" and "organic"

    The entire nutracutical industry

    I hate when I see "GLUTEN FREE!!" on a piece of steak.
  • Mallory0418
    Mallory0418 Posts: 723 Member
    random man in a white doctor-ish coat

    sexist...

    No, I was referring to the commercial she was talking about. dur
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    The modern food industry is a mess. Marketing is so unethical. There are so many commercials that make me want to puke and/or scream at the tv.

    I don't buy their crap. I talk to a few people about what I know. I instill my values on my child. I do the best I can in this crazy world. I have no issue with what other people choose for themselves, I just hope that they are AWARE. Most of my friends/family/neighbours are not aware, and of course, some just don't care even when they are feeding the garbage to their children.
  • AmyP619
    AmyP619 Posts: 1,137 Member
    This is why you read nutrition labels and ingredients before you purchase ;)

    It's like the woman who sued Nutella because they claimed it to be a "healthy" breakfast. She actually made millions off from it. Absolutely ridiculous. She said it was misleading and caused her kids to gain weight because she fed it to them. Seriously? Do you not know how to read? If you're that concerned about what you're ingesting, you'll read the labels first.
  • bussaca
    bussaca Posts: 22
    I am doing this from memory, but when I looked at the fine print it said 73% of Dr recc a low calorie energy supplement (that makes much more sense than recc a high calorie) and of those, 50% recc 5 hour energy.

    So, less than ½ of the Dr's that responded reccomended 5 hour energy. But the commercial talks about the 73%...

    (If 1,000 Dr's responded, only 730 recc low calorie, and only 50% of them said 5 hour energy, so 365 dr's out of 1,000)
  • Krissy366
    Krissy366 Posts: 458 Member
    People still watch commercials? LOL
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