The claims made in the vitamin water adv ertisement are deceptiv e. According to the video, vitamin water has the same ability to create a difference as exercise and flu shots. The name itself implies that it is solely made of vitamins and water, misleading millions of consumers who believed in the health-enhancing benefits the advertisement implies. The beverage contains liquefied sugar and water with a smattering of synthetic vitamin chemicals (Adams, 2010) . In their defense, the manufacturer may claim that the advertisement is mere promotion since the labels indicate the content and no one could believe such ridiculous claims as advertised. However, few consumers read labels and even those who attempt to, are most likely unable to decode what food labels mean simply. What people believe is what is prominently displayed on the package.
The Coca-Cola Company argument that the Vitamin Water label provides enough information is unsatisfactory. The product labels make reference to the medicinal ingredients and recommended doses with messages of the different vitamins each flavored beverage contains (D'Alvise, 2012) . However, this labels lack clear warnings on the health implications on a frequent consumer. “Buyer Beware laws, ” or caveat emptor hold the consumer at fault with the assumption that they alone are responsible for checking the suitability and quality of goods before a purchase is made. The argument is that it is the consumers’ responsibility to know what they eat and drink. Requirements that manufacturer's label products with nutritional information go a long way in educating the public. But as mentioned earlier not everyone can decode food labels in the quest of eating and drinking healthier meals. Understanding such label claims demands some knowledge of chemistry and maths that most consumers lack. Therefore, it is the manufacturer’s duty to warn the consumer.
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Transforming the food culture in the country requires major government intervention, regarding stricter laws and regulations. The federal government's website offers a series of genuinely helpful tips on healthy eating (Filipovic, 2013) . But little effort is given to regulating junk food such as Vitamin Water. It is the responsibility of the Congress to enact law pertinent to food standard and requirements. They should push for regulation of aggressive advertising of sugar heavy and nutritionally bereft as seen in the Vitamin Water advertisement . The end goal should be to increase individual knowledge about nutrition while simultaneously creating federal policies that make healthy foods and drinks accessible and affordable and ensuring that food safety is comprehensively regulated so that big corporations cannot deceive consumers about the food and drink they take.
References
Adams, M. (2010, August 10). Vitamin water revealed as a non-healthy beverage by coca cola's own lawyers (opinion) . Retrieved November 30, 2016, from Nature News: http://www.naturalnews.com/029425_vitaminwater_Coca-Cola.html#ixzz4RUGcMKEb
D'Alvise, J. (2012). An Investigation into the Persuasiveness of Puffery in Advertising:A Mixed Method Approach. Ontario: University of Guelph.
Filipovic, J. (2013, November 17). To save Americans health, Government must intervene in food industry . Retrieved November 30, 2016, from Aljazeera America: http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2013/11/fda-food-trans-fatban.html
