Amidst the backlash against high-fructose corn syrup, several bad-for-you foods are being made to sound more appealing with snappy verb titles. Check out my photo collection of these perky offenders, clandestinely acquired during various shopping trips.
I think it's fascinating from design and psychology standpoints to see how bright saturated colors and onomatopoeic words appeal to the senses. Throw in a little appeal to patriotism (are Mixers really "traditional"?) and health (Stackers provide calcium!) and you've got yourself a lip-smackin' winner!
Some good books on the topic:
Why We Buy: The Art & Science of Shopping, Paco Underhill
Mindless Eating, Michael Wansink
Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World, Greg Critser
You know those McD's french fries in the brightly-colored holder? If you left them sitting on a counter for 4+ months they don't decay at all! They must be made from something with "poly-" or "-thane". Not talking from personal experience...not sure where I saw that...perhaps sometime during college...
Posted by: Michelle | January 01, 2008 at 09:28 PM