Sugar pushers get away with it, on a technicality.

Sugar (and there's lots of it in confectionery) can cause some miserable outcomes - obesity, diabetes, depression (yes, that short term 'pick-me-up can actually make depression WORSE) and dementia may be the consequences.

 

 

So you can understand why Cadbury's trying to link their products with "joy" is of concern. I love chocolate - but know that there is increasing evidence linking them to the miserable conditions listed above.... We know why they advertise in this way - suggesting their products as 'comfort food' makes them BIG Profits.

 

I put in a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority (Self regulation). This was their response - "In this case, we considered the joy mentioned in the claim “win a joynormous surprise made just for you” would be likely to be understood by most consumers to be in relation to a chance to win a prize by taking part in the promotion being offered, as opposed to the effects the product may be able to produce when it’s consumed. As such, there doesn’t appear to have been a breach of our rules for the reasons you suggest, and in the absence of a breach of Code, we do not propose any further action
on this occasion."

YEAH, RIGHT - Cadbury's know exactly what they are doing - and know how the consumer will respond to the message. Scientists have been testing this for years. But the ASA seems to swallow this line - a great pity, and at great cost to those of us taxpayers who fund the NHS.

If you feel as strongly about this as I do - get in touch with the ASA - and share this post

Press links to see media articles
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/healthyeating/9987825/Sweet-poison-why-sugar-is-ruining-our-health.html

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/sugar-problem/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/24/robert-lustig-sugar-poison