Why people believe in the magical powers of super foods: The devious, ingenious misuse of science
Like many things that are infuriating and depressing, the legal case of POM Wonderful LLC v. The Coca-Cola Company is also very funny. Currently under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court, the case has a wonderfully absurd feel, starting with the name of the product in question, which itself remains a matter of debate. POM, the plaintiff, insists that its competitor’s beverage is called “Pomegranate Blueberry,” while Coca-Cola prefers “Pomegranate Blueberry Flavored Blend of 5 Juices.” In keeping with the philosophically nuanced choice of California’s 9th District Court, I’ll refer to the beverage colloquially as Pomegranate Blueberry, “but take no view on whether this is its actual name.”
This quibbling seems beside the point, however, since even the official name is patently deceptive. Pomegranate and blueberry juice make up a scant 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively, of Pomegranate Blueberry, while anonymous apples and grapes account for 99.4%. That’s not to mention the outrageous label, where “POMEGRANATE BLUEBERRY” dwarfs “FLAVORED BLEND OF 5 JUICES,” the effect of which is significantly enhanced by a “fruit vignette,” featuring freakishly large blueberries and raspberries (the remaining 0.1%), grapes that look like cranberries, and a pomegranate so aggressively succulent that its apple companion appears to be cowering in fear.
But deceptive names, even effective ones, aren’t what worry me most. The really dangerous words are sitting on top of the fruit vignette, in bold black letters: “HELP NOURISH YOUR BRAIN”
more
Alan Levinovitz: Suckers for a magic muffin | National Post
3 out of 4 scientists enjoy lumosity games
Like many things that are infuriating and depressing, the legal case of POM Wonderful LLC v. The Coca-Cola Company is also very funny. Currently under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court, the case has a wonderfully absurd feel, starting with the name of the product in question, which itself remains a matter of debate. POM, the plaintiff, insists that its competitor’s beverage is called “Pomegranate Blueberry,” while Coca-Cola prefers “Pomegranate Blueberry Flavored Blend of 5 Juices.” In keeping with the philosophically nuanced choice of California’s 9th District Court, I’ll refer to the beverage colloquially as Pomegranate Blueberry, “but take no view on whether this is its actual name.”
This quibbling seems beside the point, however, since even the official name is patently deceptive. Pomegranate and blueberry juice make up a scant 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively, of Pomegranate Blueberry, while anonymous apples and grapes account for 99.4%. That’s not to mention the outrageous label, where “POMEGRANATE BLUEBERRY” dwarfs “FLAVORED BLEND OF 5 JUICES,” the effect of which is significantly enhanced by a “fruit vignette,” featuring freakishly large blueberries and raspberries (the remaining 0.1%), grapes that look like cranberries, and a pomegranate so aggressively succulent that its apple companion appears to be cowering in fear.
But deceptive names, even effective ones, aren’t what worry me most. The really dangerous words are sitting on top of the fruit vignette, in bold black letters: “HELP NOURISH YOUR BRAIN”
more
Alan Levinovitz: Suckers for a magic muffin | National Post
3 out of 4 scientists enjoy lumosity games
