Although it's true that most of us can only name freezies by colour, rather than flavour, I find this concept to be far more alarming when it applies to soups.Soups are promoted as nutritious. Also, they are not marketed to children who admittedly (at a certain age) recognize colours far better than fruit names. So is the new Knorr soup line the ultimate dumbing-down? Is it really so hard to remember the name of soups?
Furthermore, the vague ingredients of each 'colour' are very alarming. Why can't they be more precise in their marketing materials?
Should they be really called floor-sweepings soups? Are these soups the 'hot dogs' of the soup world? I'm going to warm up a Bagel-ful while I think about it....
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15 comments:
I want blue soup!
I shudder at the ingredients.
Ummm - ewwww and ummm, ewwww. That is my scholarly phrase for the night.
I absolutely do not agree. It's not to get children to eat the soups, and it does not seem at all unhealthy. Color in foods means different types of vitamins etc. Green's have different nutritional value as say, red foods. So all Knorr is claiming is that all you have to do is eat that specific color soup for specific nutritional value. The ingredients in the Knorr soups are not at all 'bad' they are natural fruits and vegetables made into soups, the only difference is the fruits and veggies are divided into their different color groups. Why must you pick at Knorr for the fact that when their soups are named 'Red' or 'Yellow' you "can't tell what is in them" When you pick up a Minestrone soup the name "Minestrone" doesn't describe what ingredients go into the soup, that's why you look on the back of the can or carton for the ingredients. I think its a great idea to help the everyday person keep their diet balanced when now-a-days its getting so difficult to eat properly. To me they seem completely healthy and balanced, a great idea by Knorr. If I really want to know whats in them, I'll read the back of the box.
Anonymous, you make some very good points and I give your arguments full respect.
My issue with the food industry is that they are constantly telling us that we don't have the time to eat properly. All the products lately launched - like Knorr's soups and Bagelfuls - don't encourage us to necessarily eat better - just faster.
I honestly believe that we need to embrace the concept of "slow food". Even if we don't have the time to make all of our own meals, we should at least be more careful in the choices we do make at the grocery store.
And that cannot be achieved if we are just grabbing at packets according to their colour.
The label states: "The orange vegetables and fruit in this soup are a natural source of fibre, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and folate..." I applaud their focus on the benefits, but I'd still like to know exactly what I'm eating...
Wow. You really have no clue what you're ranting about. On the packet of orange soup pictured on your page, it says "Orange soup: butternut squash, carrot & ginger." It very clearly states what the flavor of each soup is on the front. Also, it has a picture of what's in the soup, if reading is not your personal strength. It couldn't possibly be more clear on what the flavor is. And if you want to know *exactly* what you're eating, flip over the packet and read the ingredients list. Not a hard concept. The Knorr color soups are made to be healthy soup options. The whole selling point to them is that each cup contains one serving of fruit and vegetables. Just because something is quick and easy to prepare doesn’t mean that it’s unhealthy. Likewise, just because you spend hours on a dish, that doesn’t mean that it’s good for you.
Rants are never entirely rational - that's the nature of the rant. So if you say that I don't know what I'm "ranting" about, then it's quite possibly true.
It was my pure reaction to being exposed to this new product for the first time. Therefore about some things, I am completely off the mark. On others, I still hold my ground.
For example, the photo. I added the photo quickly, mindlessly. Therefore, you're right. I wasn't paying careful enough attention and I take the blame for my carelessness. It doesn't happen all that often, but when it does, it reminds me that I'm human and I'm ok with that.
The rant followed some research I was conducting before considering purchasing the product. Originally there wasn't any information on the site about ingredients. A good website is supposed to bring you to the information you require within three clicks. I clicked a lot more than three times and was still left unsatisfied.
The thing is I assume that what is pictured on the package is not necessarily the actual ingredients. I wanted more information, and more information I did not find.
Furthermore, yes, there are plenty of dishes that you can make at home that aren't good for you. Even if sometimes I go a little heavy on the butter, I am still familiar with the ingredients that I am adding and I find that to be very comforting.
Because I think it's important that we get to know our food better and eat more consciously. I have made a personal decision to get to know my food better and as a result, I buy less packaged goods. The Knorr soup did not inspire me with much confidence when I first saw it - but I was also not inclined towards it to begin with.
As for the comment about reading not being my strong point, I disregard it on the basis that it's an ad hominem argument. If you want to attack my words, please do. If you want to attack me personally, then I reserve the right to consider that argument null.
Finally, my question is:
What were you Googling the soup for? I've had a steady-ish stream of browsers who land on my site after having using the keywords "knorr soup colours" or "knorr soups orange."
I wonder... are people looking for that they're not already finding on the Knorr site? Do they want opinions about the taste? What?
Within 3 clicks of your posted link complaining about "vague ingredients" (actually only 1 click as I had to choose which soup I wanted to learn more about):
Water, butternut squash, carrots, onion, cream, modified corn starch, salt, tomato paste, concentrated acerola cherry juice, yeast extract, concentrated orange juice, curry powder seasoning, garlic powder and citric acid.
How exactly are these "vague"?? I understood what every single one of those ingredients were without having to resort to my college Chemistry course and the periodic table for translation like I do with most food items on the shelves nowadays such as sodium stearoyl lactylate and the like.
This marketing by Knorr's has absolutely nothing to do with the "dumbing-down" of anyone. Food appeal and colors are VERY closely integrated. There have been many scientific studies done that target this exact correlation between how the food looks and how appetizing it is. Also, as pointed out previously, there are different nutritional values assigned to foods of a different color. Knorr's marketing campaign and website is simply there to educate their customers of this fact. Hardly a "dumbing-down" of anyone.
I find it hypocritical of you to complain about how pre-packaged foods aren't healthy today and then expend that focus on one of the healthiest foods I've seen on the shelves at the grocery stores. Bagelfuls? Sure... not the healthiest choice. I still see absolutely nothing wrong with Knorr's Colorful Soups and the rant (as you admit) isn't rational at all. Why all the animosity for Knorr's soups and the people who eat them? All because you didn't like the package or marketing concept?
And to answer your last question I was googling to see what other people thought of the soup and if there were any other recipes out there using this as an ingredient. I came across this blog and was astounded at the "arguments" you presented for eating healthy while at the same time complaining about Knorr's Colorful soups and likening them to something as ridiculously unhealthy as hot dogs.
I don't understand why we're arguing about soup, but here goes. For the last time.
Within 3 clicks of your posted link complaining about "vague ingredients..."
Great! When I first visited the site, I could not. The site might have been updated. I'm thrilled that the site has been improved. And if I'm wrong, then let me be wrong. In the future, I will complement my posts with screenshots to prove my point.
This marketing by Knorr's has absolutely nothing to do with the "dumbing-down" of anyone.
Good point! You win, anonymous!
...one of the healthiest foods I've seen on the shelves at the grocery stores. Bagelfuls?
Read the post carefully. I was appalled by the Bagelfuls.
As for the rest, although I appreciate your careful answers to my post, I don't understand your animosity or why you are being so belligerent about soup.
If you want to make counter-arguments, please do. If you continue to use condescending language that passively berates me, I will no longer publish your comments.
If I don't want to eat the soup, that is my choice and just be ok with that. If you just want to start an argument, then please read another blog.
Anonymous, I respectfully block you.
I agreed with you about the Bagelfuls. Re-read the post. I see no issues with posting about Bagelfuls being unhealthy. I was simply wondering why anyone would "attack" a healthy soup product for it's ingredients when they're all natural and healthy for you.
Sigh.
I was frustrated when the product first came out because I could not get any confirmation of such healthiness. As I said before, that post was the fresh expression of that frustration. That doesn't mean that I still hold that opinion or that I am unwillingly to change it.
If everything you have ever written in the past still holds water and is completely objective and true - then good for you.
I am just going with the flow and trying to be as honest as possible in the moment.
I am not trying to discount your arguments. They are just and clear, and I can understand them. The reason that I don't wish to continue this argument is that I get the feeling that this could go on ad infinitum.
You seem to be looking for some kind of validation that I cannot give you. Why do I think so? Because you keep on with this debate long after I have admitted where there was a failing on my part.
What more can I say to make this drawn-out debate end?
I'm not debating anything. *shrug*
Your first reply to me seemed snarky and there was a misunderstanding concerning my mentioning the Bagelfuls. I was simply clearing that up.
Anonymous, you are clearly on Knorr's payroll and/or have been drinking some of their Cool-Aid. Debating a post that was done on October with facts form February seems a little low and unfair. Companies usually use comments made by Bloggers to better their products, not to force their products placement strategy down their throat's.
Anyway, why does Adriana's blog post create such an emotional response? You seem to take soup too seriously, you need to find other interests that will help you relax and enjoy life ;)
I will say though that the new Knorr site is gor-geee-ous. Colourful, well-laid out, informative.
Full props to Knorr! Check it out:
http://www.knorr.ca/en/default.aspx
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