Deceptive Marketing In Food Industry 

Deceptive Marketing In Food Industry

Introduction

It is unimaginable to overstate the advantages of making health claims about a product or service to advertising in our culture, which is becoming more and more health concerned. However, advertising statements must be accurate and able to withstand factual scrutiny, and the content released to the public must not contain any misleading information. The FSSAI examined many items due to false advertising, and 19 cases have started the legal process under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act.

To protect the interests of consumers, the government should create an independent broadcast authority that would create tight guidelines, especially for telemarketing services, to ensure that only items with a clear purpose and no violations of the FSSAI Act are promoted in the media.

To bring such incidents to the attention of the enforcement group, which in turn must function as a watchdog of the public interest, consumers and their groups must exercise their rights against dishonest merchants engaging in such practices.

READ MORE:

Privatization Of The Military Sector

How MARICO’s Saffola beat ITC & Hindustan Unilever in EDIBLE OIL WAR in India?

Zomato Blinkit Deal 2022

Strategies For Food Marketing And Advertising Channels

Customers are targeted through various channels to help create brands and impact their purchasing habits for food products. Television advertising, in-school marketing, product placements, kids clubs, the Internet, toys, and items with brand logos, and youth-targeted promotions like cross-selling and tie-ins are just a few examples of marketing strategies geared toward consumers.

In addition, food and beverage businesses are seeking methods to circumvent FDA restrictions to deceive customers into thinking their goods are healthy. The following is a description of the channels used to promote food and drinks to people.

1. Labeling Products As All Natural

The FDA does not yet have a definition for this assertion. Foods and beverages are permitted to market themselves as “All Natural,” provided they don’t use additional coloring, artificial flavors, or synthetic ingredients. For the food companies, this leaves a lot of space for interpretation” A product with little processing and no artificial ingredients or added colors when a product has had little processing, it has not undergone significant modification.

A definition of the term “natural” must be included on the label (e.g., “no artificial components; minimally processed”). Even while a “natural” label typically indicates that something is safer and healthier, that isn’t always the case. A chemical’s safety is not at all affected by whether it is natural or manufactured. This marketing tag is solely based on the appeal-to-nature fallacy.

2. Lower Fat/Sugar 

Be wary of statements that sugar and fat intake has decreased. The item has to contain 25% less of the claimed nutritional value than the original referred item to qualify as “reduced,” according to the FDA definition. Items that advertise being reduced are frequently not always healthy. In other sectors, businesses make up for components lost. For instance, a reduced-fat food may have more sugar to maintain the preferred flavor of consumers. If you want to know whether a product is genuinely healthy, always read the nutrition label.

3. Zero Trans Fat 

A product may bear the “Zero Trans Fat” claim if it has fewer than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. In this situation, the nutrition information will frequently say “0 grams of trans fat.” The issue is that the product no longer contains 0% trans-fat when you consume more than one serving. Verify the ingredients for hydrogenated oils, which signifies that the product has trans fat.

Misconception Of Organic Food Items

There is a widespread and popular misunderstanding regarding the meaning of the phrase “organic.” The term “organic” describes how a product is made. It must be produced using a recognized technique that the United States Department of Agriculture has approved (USDA). Although many believe that purchasing organic foods would help them lose weight, doing so does not always result in calorie reduction.

Even if the product is organic, always remember to read the nutrition and ingredient labels. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, organic food contains pesticides. Both permitted synthetic and approved organic pesticides can be used by organic farms.

There is a wide range in pesticide toxicity, and environmental impact, both within and between organic and synthetic pesticides. “natural” pesticides aren’t necessarily less toxic or better for the environment, but that doesn’t mean residues on either conventional or organic foods are anywhere near unsafe levels.

That’s not what the label signifies if you expressly buy organic because you believe it’s healthier for the environment. This label is deceptive because many believe it indicates the product is safer, healthier, or better for the environment, while in reality, none of those things are necessarily true.4

The Impact on Business of False Advertising

The repercussions on the firm itself are a further consequence of deceptive advertising. Usually, when a company makes a misleading assertion, it doesn’t realize that the advertisement would ultimately be harmful. Consumers do not appreciate being misled. They will take action against you as soon as they know you were lying to them. To begin with, don’t count on them to fall for the same con twice.

When they learn you’ve duped them, they can also become enraged and disseminate unfavorable rumors about your business online or on social media. The customer will probably sue your company if the worst happens. In the worst-case scenario, the customer would likely file a lawsuit against your firm for damages, which might result in high future legal costs for the company.

The Impact on Competition Perception

One of the worst consequences of deceptive advertising is this. Businesses tend to enhance their goods and services and reduce the prices they pass on to customers when there is robust competition among them. Long-term, this can help the sector as a whole since it encourages innovation. Due to intense competition, businesses are compelled to think outside the box and invest in R&D in order to enhance their goods and services.

However, if a rival supports creating deceptive marketing and making alluring but untrue promises about their interests, your business can find up doing the same rather than investing in innovation. Damage to the industry as a whole result.

Conclusion

The worst part of unethical advertising, in my opinion, is the consequences it has on customers. Decisions are ultimately made by the customer in ignorance. Customers will make bad judgments regarding your products and services if you don’t give them the truth or if you use your advertising to construct a picture for them that obscures or contradicts the facts about your product or service.

Such deceptive advertisements sometimes include assurances that conceal the tiny print, which may conflict with what the item or service truly offers. These advertisements could make misleading promises to you, and when you try to make a claim, the businesses might back out. Additionally, they could try to hide the fact that the marketed item or service comes with significant health risks and unstated prices. Advertising that conceals information will ultimately backfire when customers become aware of it.