Chocolate health claims: an explanation?
January 8, 2008
A comment on the previous post about chocolate asks why chocolate manufacturers think they have to put health claims on candy. The simple answer is that health claims are the only things that sell food these days. And chocolate candy is in trouble–you aren’t eating enough of it to keep these corporations growing fast enough. And on top of all that, the companies are all being sued for price fixing which, alas, is illegal. Health claims are an “eat more” marketing strategy. I think health claims–all of them–should be illegal. That isn’t going to happen but we could make our displeasure with such misleading marketing known to the companies.
[…] Chocolate health claims: an explanation? […]
Pingback by Health Tip: Low-Sodium Meals by Health Tips — January 8, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Actually, chocolate is selling poorly because it tastes like crap. American manufacturers have been gumming it up with cheap additives to replace real cocoa butter.
I lived for several years in Switzerland, where the notion that chocolate is healthy doesn’t need to be advertised—it’s just common sense that people accept unthinkingly, like the notion here that children need to drink a lot of milk. (I’m not endorsing, I’m just sayin’.) When I was living there, we regarded chocolate as a staple food (the government actually recommended that you keep some on hand as part of your required emergency food rations) and ate it pretty much every day.
Interestingly, I always lose weight when we go to Switzerland, because while I eat hearty there, I also walk everywhere. That’s a good tradeoff.
Comment by Brigid — January 8, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
[…] Marion placed an observative post today on Chocolate health claims: an explanation?.Here’s a quick excerpt:A comment on the previous post about chocolate asks why chocolate manufacturers think they have to put health claims on candy. The simple answer is that health claims are the only things that sell food these days. … […]
Pingback by www.healthbookforyou.info » Chocolate health claims: an explanation? — January 9, 2008 @ 7:44 am
So sad candy companies are having to rely on health claims to sell their wares. What happened to just producing a really delicious product? I don’t think chocolate was ever meant to be a large part of the diet, but I used to enjoy a small piece once in a while. Seems lately most of the commonly available chocolate tastes chemical or empty. Maybe I need to order some from Switzerland?! Nonetheless, pasting a health claim on chocolate does seem silly.
Comment by Sheila — January 9, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Totally agree with Sheila….most American chocolate tastes terrible. Also agree that health-claim marketing should be illegal. So sick of reading that one thing or another “may lower cholesterol” or what have you. We’ve all just forgotten how to eat…but do we really want some corporation telling us how to?
Comment by Erin — January 9, 2008 @ 4:44 pm