SupplySide

The first time I saw Christine Dougherty claim she lost 54 lbs on the Taco Bell ® Drive-Thru Diet ® Menu, like many watching the ad, I snorted in disgust.  Yes, they make it clear it’s not a real weight loss program.  Yes, they let you know it’s about smart choices, blah blah blah, but let’s get real: Taco Bell knows the average consumer will think the Fresco menu items are somehow good for your health.  Ms. Dougherty looks fit and healthy, so it’s got to be healthy, right?

If I do the math, I can eat a whole lot of Fresco Burrito Supremes @ 241 calories each before I catch up to that fattening 1200 calorie Asian chicken salad I had for lunch the other day.  That said, the salad was loaded with  antioxidant-rich veggies, and chock-full of nutrients, water (from the veggies) and protein.  Aside from the protein in the beef and some mind-blowing high levels of sodium, there’s very little of other nutrients in a Taco Bell® Fresco Burrito Supreme.  Obviously, the healthier choice would be a modified version of that salad, cut down on levels of fattening cheese, dressing, etc.  So, keeping in mind our constant push to educate the public on healthy diet choices, do you think the Taco Bell ® Drive-Thru Diet ® ads are irresponsible, or genius marketing?

As an increasing number of cosmetic and personal care lines are dropping the use of paraben ingredients such methylparaben (as well as ethyl, propyl, butyl, and benzyl), the stakes are getting higher for those that continue to use paraben ingredients.  The UK's largest nationwide chain of health food shops, Holland & Barrett announced they will ban all products which contain parabens (as well as a ban on products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate).  Holland & Barrett are not alone.  Taking the lead from growing concerns over toxic cosmetic ingredients, the giant retailer Morrisons, a leading U.K. supermarket chain with over 400 stores, announced that it planned on reviewing paraben policies as well.

The FDA states on their website that “a study published in 2004 (Darbre, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology) detected parabens in breast tumors. The study also discussed this information in the context of the weak estrogen-like properties of parabens and the influence of estrogen on breast cancer.” The study didn’t prove a direct link between parabens and cancer, nor was there a control group that showed possible paraben levels in healthy breast tissue.

Although the study was clearly flawed, the question remains: Where are the studies that prove that parabens don’t in fact have a link to cancer?  Parabens, primarily used as a cheap and efficient preservative, are a common ingredient in the personal care category; all that may change as consumer questions on proof of safety continue to go largely unanswered.

Meanwhile, the issue of cosmetic ingredient safety has polarized the industry, creating debates that are beyond heated, and the battle rages on. 

I really want to meet the genius that created the ubiquitous catch phrase “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas”.  Can you imagine the bragging rights that marketing person must have?  Needless to say, Las Vegas was a blast!

As always, I learned a few things during SupplySide West.  For instance, when you tell people you’re taking your clients to a tapas restaurant, make sure to clarify that it’s “tapas”, and not “topless”.  After being in a crowded room drowned by competing noise, with my message presumptively misunderstood, I somewhat understand what it feels like being an ingredients supplier in this industry.  I guess that’s why our tradeshow experience is so fruitful for a supplier.  You get some key one word options out of it: clarification; explanation; education; connection.  There really is nothing that can take the place of the face to face time we all shared last week. 

In a tough economy—when most companies have incorporated new travel restrictions and limited budgets—SupplySide West grew, both in exhibitors and attendees.  Bravo to the collective power of our industry, for making this the best SupplySide West ever!