Tesco and our freedom to choose
This is an ad for Tesco in this week's Radio Times. Not sure that I need to say anything about this...
Maybe I ought to explain that this is an ad for a chilled syrup sponge pudding and in the top right hand corner is the labelling system that Tesco is using to inform it's customers.
I will try and sharpen up the bottom picture so you can actually see it!
posted by Helsalata @ 9:51 am
4 comments
4 Comments:
I cannot work out if you think this is good or bad? I personally think its good.
Well it connects with the blog I did about the Food Standards Agency trying to get a standard labelling system in place. So firstly Tesco have decided to "go it alone" and do their own thing. Secondly they are advertising a steamed treacle pudding that according to their own labelling gives the eater 21% of the day's calories, 60% of your daily sugar intake and 41% of your daily saturated fat intake. I personally look at that and think "Hang on a minute, don't have this at all" Whereas they are implying that people will only have it occasionally as a treat based on a balanced approach. I think they are crediting people with too much sense. Just because people have the information doesn't mean they will a) use it and b) understand it. So giving the patronising illusion of choice and the whole "We respect you as an informed consumer" is absolute crap. They have cynically found the best way to sell more of their unhealthy "value added" junk (prepacked goodies that include all the cheap by-products that the food industry create like corn syrup and monosodium diposphate) and I guess to balance this "treat food" they'll have the "Be Good to Yourself" version that has only 50% sugar and has less than 10% fat, which surpise surprise is still really bad for you!
I think in short I'm saying "Actually people DO need telling what to eat because they currently get to chose and make a huge cock up of it" and if people are told what to eat it isn't about prepackaged syrup sponges, it's about fruit, veg and a variety of home made meals.
I understand what your saying. Being on a diet (as you know) any help at understanding what something contains in terms of calories and saturated fat is very useful.
Some of these fresh products never have that. I am not stupid so I know a treacle pud (just as much as an indian korma takeaway) is bad for you. But for someone that is trying to balance intakes then I would see this as useful and I would use it.
Does it give a choice - dunno - but I reckon the more we know about what we are eating the better. Are they being cynical, probably - but as someone that suffers horribly from food and temptation of food, seeing something that helps me determine how bad something is (once I have learned the knowledge about intake of fats and calories) is useful.
Taking it one step further, the Tesco Healthy Eating Range all comes marked in weight watchers points values so you know exactly what your getting - this I find intensley useful for keeping to a diet.
I see what you're saying, good point. Some labelling is better than no labelling. Maybe I have a problem with being able to buy a four pack of Mars Bars for less than a pack of East Anglian apples. *sigh* Supermarkets don't make it easier for us, do they?
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