| Being a consumer isn't easy. And it's not like you can | | | | making linoleum flooring (and this is why it's not |
| major in it in college (you can major in marketing, but | | | | considered edible by humans!). Marketers knew that |
| there are no degrees in consumerism). | | | | you'd never eat the stuff if they called it linseed oil, |
| When you're a consumer, you really have to have | | | | so they changed the name to flaxseed oil. |
| your wits about you and be constantly on your guard | | | | In a way, it's like Prego Pasta Sauces. When |
| for slick marketing executives and ad agents who's | | | | Campbell's, as in the soup company, came out with |
| only purpose in life is to SELL YOU SOMETHING. | | | | their pasta sauce years ago, nobody bought it. The |
| When you keep your eyes open, you'll see that | | | | name Campbell's had been associated with soup for |
| they're willing to tell you anything to get you to buy, | | | | so long that most consumers imagined Campbell's |
| buy, buy. | | | | Pasta Sauce would be soupy and thin. So they |
| Let's take flaxseed oil as a perfect example of slick | | | | changed the name to Prego and it became a leading |
| marketing. It's sold as a great source of omega 3 oils, | | | | brand. Same product, different name. |
| but the truth is it isn't. And I can prove it! | | | | When you take away the fact that science tells us |
| A recent study published in the July 2006 issue of | | | | it's not a good source and that it's not part of the |
| the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirmed | | | | human food chain (it's actually a by-product of the |
| what I've been telling people for years about | | | | linen industry), what's left to market about it? Nothing |
| flaxseed oil. And I quote, "Evidence suggests that | | | | really! So marketers sell flaxseed oil by highlighting |
| increased consumption of n-3 FAs [omega 3 fatty | | | | perceived problems with their competition, which in |
| acids] from fish or fish-oil supplements, but not of | | | | this case is fish oils. |
| alpha-linolenic acid [flaxseed oil], reduces the rates of | | | | They'll tell you that there's no fishy after taste with |
| all-cause mortality, cardiac and sudden death, and | | | | flaxseed oil. Well, fish is fish folks and you have to |
| possibly stroke." Pretty convincing! | | | | decide what's more important, your long-term health |
| In spite of the scientific evidence to the contrary, a | | | | or the momentary taste of fish. |
| marketer's job is to make flaxseed oil look like a | | | | They'll also say things like fish "may" have heavy |
| "hero" in your mind and he or she does this with | | | | metals and toxins which flaxseed oil doesn't. This may |
| words and mental images. Let's dissect some of their | | | | be true, especially if you're eating less than desirable |
| words and mental images of flaxseed oil and see | | | | fish from a disreputable source. But they obviously |
| what's behind them. | | | | don't know every source of fish oil. I personally know |
| They'll tell you that flaxseed oil is natural. This might | | | | of one that is screened for over 160 toxins with a |
| be in that it's not "man-made," but it's not natural to | | | | detectable limit of ZERO before the source will be |
| the human food chain. It"s not even considered edible | | | | used. |
| oil for humans by many scientists. Why? Let's keep | | | | The last two examples are a cheap shot marketing |
| looking at the marketing. | | | | ploy used by companies with NO other merit to their |
| Why do they call it flaxseed oil when that's not what | | | | product who want to play on misunderstandings and |
| it was called for centuries? That's right, flaxseed oil | | | | unfounded fears about fish. |
| has another name. | | | | Don't buy it and don't buy flaxseed oil for your health. |
| Traditionally it's been called "linseed oil" and linseed oil | | | | If you do, you'll only be buying a bottle of slick oily |
| is used for thinning paint, polishing furniture and | | | | marketing. |