A margarine company that knows my heart

This could be the most irresponsible advertising I've ever seen. I have a particular issue with companies that prey on our vulnerability when it comes to health.

Flora is on TV and online giving people sage advice about the age of their hearts, as well as plenty of lifestyle information intended to help us get healthier. How is it even legal for a margarine company (or any company really) to run a completely serious online questionnaire that tells me whether or not I should be worried about the health of my heart? Let alone that it's an awful brand decision. Surely they can see that it's pretty sensitive advice that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Even if margarine is a healthier alternative to butter, that doesn't make it healthy. So many brands seem to misunderstand - even though they are not as unhealthy as other products in their category, it doesn't give them the right to claim health benefits.

IMHO Flora has in this case completely overstepped the boundary of being useful and engaging in their communications and potentially encouraged some very dangerous behaviours. I could just about accept Flora aligning itself with the London Marathon, but with the health of one of my most vital organs, no way. What if Flora tells me that my heart is very young? Will I then be more complacent about how I take care of it? And imagine the reverse - if I hear that my heart is older than my years? I would panic, I'd be upset, and I'd probably start costing the NHS and myself a lot of money in possibly unnecessary tests.

I certainly wouldn't eat Flora.

Posted via email from Tiffany's posterous