Comments on: Selling Corn Syrup http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/ Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:13:41 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Oliver Jen http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3307 Oliver Jen Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:34:18 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3307 Hi, found your blog thru Eugene Cho's... Also, HFCS just doesn't taste as good! Trying real maple syrup (vs. the HFCS version) and peanut butter and ketchup made with sugar (both available at Trader Joes), solely based on taste I could never go back... Hi, found your blog thru Eugene Cho’s…

Also, HFCS just doesn’t taste as good! Trying real maple syrup (vs. the HFCS version) and peanut butter and ketchup made with sugar (both available at Trader Joes), solely based on taste I could never go back…

]]> By: Shaping Youth http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3211 Shaping Youth Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:22:01 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3211 Thrilled to find your blog and well thought out assessment...At Shaping Youth we deal with media and marketing's impact on kids and as I wrote in this post, "HFCS Corn Wars: A Surprise That's Far From Sweet" http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=2135 I find it particularly irksome that no one is riled about the media buy targeting tweenagers on 'ABC Family' for example, who have not yet developed the critical thinking skills to assess the mythbusting magic of spinmeisters and industry hype. sigh. This is the most blatant targeting of a vulnerable market I've deconstructed in awhile, but tactics like this are pervasive. (see our category on childhood obesity, advergaming, and body image) I'm doing a follow up today with our health correspondent, so will link back to this post for the civil commentary alone...well done all! Many thanks, Amy Jussel Founder/Executive Director www.ShapingYouth.org Thrilled to find your blog and well thought out assessment…At Shaping Youth we deal with media and marketing’s impact on kids and as I wrote in this post, “HFCS Corn Wars: A Surprise That’s Far From Sweet” http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=2135 I find it particularly irksome that no one is riled about the media buy targeting tweenagers on ‘ABC Family’ for example, who have not yet developed the critical thinking skills to assess the mythbusting magic of spinmeisters and industry hype. sigh.

This is the most blatant targeting of a vulnerable market I’ve deconstructed in awhile, but tactics like this are pervasive. (see our category on childhood obesity, advergaming, and body image)

I’m doing a follow up today with our health correspondent, so will link back to this post for the civil commentary alone…well done all! Many thanks, Amy Jussel

Founder/Executive Director
http://www.ShapingYouth.org

]]> By: Dagny http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3199 Dagny Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:50:15 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3199 Unfortunately most corporations are only focused on the bottom line, not on the potential harm or damage their product can cause. More and more it's up to the consumer to research what they are putting into their bodies. As another blogger said, there are many things in nature that can kill. Dagny www.onnotextiles.com bamboo clothing Unfortunately most corporations are only focused on the bottom line, not on the potential harm or damage their product can cause. More and more it’s up to the consumer to research what they are putting into their bodies. As another blogger said, there are many things in nature that can kill.

Dagny
http://www.onnotextiles.com
bamboo clothing

]]> By: sonja http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3195 sonja Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:24:55 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3195 "those folks"? Those folks are farmers who have to feed their families too. It's become an absolutely vicious circle where the farmers cannot get a reasonable price for their crops without subsidies, so the farmers plant corn (or soy). The corn is grown and distributed amongst the manufacturers of what we now call "food." The food-like substance is sold the grocery stores. Poor people are given subsidies (in the form of coupons and/or food stamps) to purchase the food-like substance and told that the food-like substance is more nutritious because it has vitamins and minerals added. Or they don't. They just purchase it to make their kids stop whining. Who knows. But watch television, buy a couple of magazines. Just hang out in a grocery store for a while. Watch how lower and middle class people shop. Then read "Eaters Manifesto," by Michael Pollan. “those folks”? Those folks are farmers who have to feed their families too. It’s become an absolutely vicious circle where the farmers cannot get a reasonable price for their crops without subsidies, so the farmers plant corn (or soy). The corn is grown and distributed amongst the manufacturers of what we now call “food.” The food-like substance is sold the grocery stores. Poor people are given subsidies (in the form of coupons and/or food stamps) to purchase the food-like substance and told that the food-like substance is more nutritious because it has vitamins and minerals added. Or they don’t. They just purchase it to make their kids stop whining. Who knows. But watch television, buy a couple of magazines. Just hang out in a grocery store for a while. Watch how lower and middle class people shop. Then read “Eaters Manifesto,” by Michael Pollan.

]]> By: Don http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3194 Don Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:16:38 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3194 Maybe this is naive sentiment...but don't these folks have a conscience? Deep down they must understand the immorality of causing harm for cash. That really is the bottom line, isn't it? When did those who produce the crap, those who subsidize it, and those who market it check their morality in? Peace. Maybe this is naive sentiment…but don’t these folks have a conscience? Deep down they must understand the immorality of causing harm for cash. That really is the bottom line, isn’t it? When did those who produce the crap, those who subsidize it, and those who market it check their morality in?

Peace.

]]> By: Friday Linkage | Headspace http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3193 Friday Linkage | Headspace Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:31:46 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3193 [...] 1. Selling Corn Syrup|JulieClawson.com [...] [...] 1. Selling Corn Syrup|JulieClawson.com [...]

]]> By: Karl http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3191 Karl Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:56:51 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3191 I think that's only partly true Mike. Rice and beans is also cheap, and makes a much healthier meal than corn based junk food. In most places in the US, tap water is free and safe to drink and is a lot better for you than a Coke. But a lot more lower income people drink soft drinks and eat corn based junk food, than eat rice and beans and drink water. When I was in grad school my wife and I were technically below the poverty line but we were able to eat pretty healthily, by eating the cheaper stuff on the "still nutrituous" menu. But the vast majority of people shopping with us at the grocery store in the low income area where we lived were buying very different products than us, and actually spending more in many cases. I think that’s only partly true Mike.

Rice and beans is also cheap, and makes a much healthier meal than corn based junk food. In most places in the US, tap water is free and safe to drink and is a lot better for you than a Coke. But a lot more lower income people drink soft drinks and eat corn based junk food, than eat rice and beans and drink water.

When I was in grad school my wife and I were technically below the poverty line but we were able to eat pretty healthily, by eating the cheaper stuff on the “still nutrituous” menu. But the vast majority of people shopping with us at the grocery store in the low income area where we lived were buying very different products than us, and actually spending more in many cases.

]]> By: Mike Clawson http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3190 Mike Clawson Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:46:32 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3190 We eat slop not because we "want" to, but because it's cheap. It's cheap because of subsidies. No one goes out and says "I want to get me some high fructose corn syrup." We don't have to "force" people to eat better or ban anything. We just have to stop subsidizing junk food. When the price of junk food accurately reflects what it actually costs, we'll eat less of it. It's one of the positive aspects of capitalism. We eat slop not because we “want” to, but because it’s cheap. It’s cheap because of subsidies. No one goes out and says “I want to get me some high fructose corn syrup.” We don’t have to “force” people to eat better or ban anything. We just have to stop subsidizing junk food. When the price of junk food accurately reflects what it actually costs, we’ll eat less of it. It’s one of the positive aspects of capitalism.

]]> By: nitika http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3189 nitika Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:31:55 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3189 So what's the answer Julie? Nix the subsidies, okay I agree with that... and it would help. But in the end, if people want to eat slop, someone is going to grow it. I can't see forcing people to eat better, or banning anyone from advertising their product. There is a large and growing market for decent food. People who care about their health, their quality of life, and their taste-buds demand it. More interesting about the commercial I think was the twist on racial stereotypes. The ditzy white girl must shop at whole foods, b/c it's just better... the message is, who is she to tell the black woman what she should and should not feed her kids? Especially with such a condescending attitude. So what’s the answer Julie? Nix the subsidies, okay I agree with that… and it would help. But in the end, if people want to eat slop, someone is going to grow it. I can’t see forcing people to eat better, or banning anyone from advertising their product.

There is a large and growing market for decent food. People who care about their health, their quality of life, and their taste-buds demand it.

More interesting about the commercial I think was the twist on racial stereotypes. The ditzy white girl must shop at whole foods, b/c it’s just better… the message is, who is she to tell the black woman what she should and should not feed her kids? Especially with such a condescending attitude.

]]> By: karen http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/comment-page-1/#comment-3187 karen Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:31:19 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/2008/09/04/selling-corn-syrup/#comment-3187 ha ha ha.... THAT was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about.... :)I couldn't believe it when I first saw those commercials. sigh. ha ha ha…. THAT was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about…. :) I couldn’t believe it when I first saw those commercials. sigh.

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