11 shocking ads for children’s food products

Child food: the ads that would cause a scandal today

Annie Pastor’s book “The pubs that you will never see again”, published by Hugo & Desinge, reveals 100 years of advertising dating mostly from the 19th or 20th century. The least that can be said is that some advertising messages of the time, extolling the merits of drinks, candies or other food products intended for children would be inconceivable today.

Our eating habits have changed a lot, as evidenced by these old advertising posters. If the beginning of the 19th century was marked by a real freedom of tone, after the Second World War and its years of food restrictions, the pubs send families a clear message: “ get overweight it’s good for your health, eat fatty and sweet “. Inconceivable today with the famous slogan: “eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day”. Then, in 1948, with the creation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the tone changed and recommendations changed in terms of public health and food hygiene. Ads are starting to incorporate cautious messages, advising families to live healthy above all else. Let’s take a look back at this collection of pubs and slogans that you will never see again …

  • /

    La Blédine Jacquemaire

    In the infant milk department, in the 30s, people praised the fact that they no longer needed foster mothers, and infant formula could take over. To convince expectant mothers to choose powdered breast milk, Blédine released an ad with a shocking slogan “an infant is above all a digestive tract”.

  • /

    Cornflour

    Incredible but true ! The advertisers of 1950 did not hesitate to stage a baby, pipe in mouth, to praise the Maïzena brand with the slogan “Maïzena, it’s my reason for living” …

  • /

    Canned Swift’s Meat

    Canned Swift’s meat was a hit in 1954. The message: “Nothing will allow your baby to grow as much as meat … So give it to him every day!” “.  At the time, canned meat was made from animals fed on animal meal, criticized since the mad cow scandal …

  • /

    Seven-Up

    An image that would make our ministry of public health shudder! In 1955, the famous brand of soda Seven-up made a baby drink from the neck. The advertising message is aimed directly at mothers of toddlers with this advice: “This is the reason why we have the youngest consumers in the market. Seven-Up is so healthy it makes babies feel good. New mothers, we have a terrific recipe! Mix the milk from your child’s bottle, in equal parts, with Seven-Up. Guaranteed success ”. Confusing message today, sodas are not recommended to fight against childhood obesity.

  • /

    Nestlé breast milk

    In 1930, the image of the essential foster mother to the child was shattered. Nestlé is releasing an ad with a strong message: “Only Nestlé makes it possible to have healthy babies”. Understand, finished the nursing mother. This selling point already existed in 1875, when it was created. The slogan is taken up in the 20th century, especially in developing countries. Small reminder from the authorities in 1981, The WHO prohibits any form of advertising encouraging the substitution of breast milk by powdered milk and recommends exclusive breastfeeding for a minimum of 6 months.

  • /

    Soda Canada Dry

    The Canada Dry drink was created in 1907, and was originally sold in pharmacies. The ad features a tough guy with a swollen face. The soda slogan touts a drink made for men : “Ginger for the stomach, sugar for the taste. Men of action should drink Canada Dry for a quick boost of energy ”. In fact, the drink will be singled out in 2009 following a study denouncing a risk of pancreatic cancer associated with its composition.

  • /

    Bonbons Dark Side of Sweetness

    More recently, in 2009, an advertisement for “The Dark Side of Sweetness” highlighted the dark side of sweetness. We see a little girl putting poison in the tea that she is going to serve to her friends. Or how to use black humor to sell children the dark side of sweets …

  • /

    Vitamin Donuts

    In 1942, donuts were the most popular dessert for little Americans. In the advertising, the benefits in energy and vitality of these “vitamin donuts” are praised.. In fact, it is a high calorie cake in which there are 450 kilocalories per 100 grams, and for which we are always looking for the promised vitamins …

  • /

    Del Monte ‘Catsup

    In 1962,  advertisers pull out all the stops to promote American ketchup. They even go so far as to offer them for children’s snacks. The Del Monte Catsup brand features two young boys preparing toast with… ketchup, as if it were jam!

  • /

    Sauce Kraft

    Unlike the current recommendations, which recommend avoiding eating too much fat, in 1970, a wind of freedom is blowing on the side of food brands. American. The Kraft brand, for example, offers a subtle recipe made with salad dressing and mini-Marshmallows, “a little sticky, but appetizing” …

  • /

    Trix cereals

    “When a girl is five, she needs love… and a little applied psychology”. In 1950, to sell cereals to children, the Trix brand did not hesitate to compare the love of a mother with the need for cereals in the morning. Today, children’s cereals are considered too high in sugar by nutritionists.

Leave a Reply