Beautiful, Haunting Infomercial...True?

Recently Chipotle released an infomercial  (Scarecrow) that has gained a lot of attention. It is said to be more beautiful than many Hollywood films. The message is (mainly) that the factory farms of America are destroying our society (overstatement? What do you think the message is?). There is very little branding in this message - just a brief shot at the very end of the video.

You can find copies of this in many places around the internet. On the page that I linked, there is a large section of comments at the bottom of the page. One of the comments reads as such, "This is great, but they're conveniently leaving out the part where they still slaughter a bunch of (happier?) cows, chicken and pigs for their burritos. It's not like Chipotle is vegetarian, which is what you'd think from this ad? The scarecrow is just chopping up veggies at the end."

Chipotle is hopeful that consumers will see their company as a fast food restaurant with a brain. What are your thoughts on the film?

Healthy or Wholesome?

We've talked about some of the downsides associated with terms like "low-cal" and "low-fat" and "healthy:"  Consumer associate lack of flavor with all of those terms.  Given a choice between something that is low-fat and something that is not, people might choose the low-fat option but they will assume that it won't taste as good as the regular option.

Sadie sent me an article the other day regarding a newer marketing tactic.  Enter a new set of terms that are being used to describe food.  Wholesome. Fresh. Natural, Premium. Local.  All of these words stir up images of things that are "good" and yet that taste good.  Terms such as this are vague and hard to define so they avoid accusations of not being true while conjuring up "tasty" images.

Thoughts?

Eat Less

The USDA recommends that Americans eat less.  That is understandable, considering the fact that we have gotten *so* used to eating more.  And more.  And more. We can't continue at this pace.  It isn't good for us, but it's what we do...because it is what the restaurants offer us. And let's be honest.  We all go to restaurants, right?  Who has time to cook at home anymore??

Does anyone need the "All American Jack?"  Which, with small fries and drink add up to 1400 calories?   Honestly, it is $4.99 for the whole meal.  How can you NOT eat it at that price?

What favors are we doing the American public? 

I think the following quote is....oh I can't find the right word for it.  Funny?  Ridiculous?  Honest?  Sad?

"The bottom line is we're in the business of making money, and we make money off of what we sell," said Beth Mansfield, spokeswoman for CKE Restaurants Inc., which owns the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's chains. "If we wanted to listen to the food police and sell nuts and berries and tofu burgers, we wouldn't make any money and we'd be out of business."

What would be your suggestions to the restaurants?

Continuing the Food Theme

Since we're on the theme of food....there were two interesting pieces in the news today.


How many of you have enjoyed a blueberry bagel?  Blueberry waffle?  Blueberry cereal?  Blueberry muffin?  Would you be disappointed to learn that your blueberries were actually just bits made of " sugar, corn cereal, modified food starch, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, artificial flavor, cellulose gum, salt and artificial colors like Blue #2, Red #40, Green #3 and Blue #1?" 

Truth - not a bit of blueberry in sight.  Sorry folks.  This might not be a problem were these products not advertised with photos of plump ripe blueberries on the front of the package. 

                     **********************************************************************************

Do any of you indulge in Taco Bell?  Turns out the seasoned beef isn't so much beef as it is other stuff.  64% other stuff to be exact.  Have faith, 36% of the seasoned beef is actually beef.

Is this news worthy of a lawsuit?

The Crime of McDonalds

Is it a crime that McDonald's sells unhealthy food to our kids?  Many people would argue, yes. After all, San Francisco city council recently (November 2010) voted to ban Happy Meals with toys unless McDonald's could bring the nutritional content of the meal within reason ("restaurants may include a toy with a meal if it contains fewer than 600 calories – food and drink combined -- and if less than 35% of the calories come from fat").
 

Perhaps even more interesting is this article by Michele Simon who explains that *any* advertising (not just those that contain toys in fat-laden meals) towards children is a crime.  Read the whole article and then let me know your take.

But I want my burger!!

Here is an article from last week's New York Times regarding fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles. It turns out that South LA is too fat and too poor to have any new fast food restaurants. At least that is what the LA city council says. Uh huh. True story. They voted last week (mid-January) to ban the opening of any new fast food restaurants in South LA.

New Fast Food Ban

A moratorium has been in place since 2008 but now they're completely banned.  

Should we be able to ban new businesses because of the makeup of the neighborhood?  Thoughts?