I’m beginning to feel a bit sorry for the Adverting Standards Authority. Everyone I meet tells me how stupid the decision was to allow a fertilizer to be described as 100% chemical free. Last week it came up on my appearance on BBC Radio Wales’ Jamie & Louise radio show. We had a good discussion about the stupidity of the decision and how it was an insult to the public. I was also able to take the opportunity to praise the quality of chemistry in the Welsh Chemistry Departments and to highlight the excellent work done by our members Jim Ballantine and Bill Williams who take a magic of chemistry show to thousands of primary schools every year.
Earlier in the week I was at a seminar organised by Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association on the ‘Chemical Conundrum’ – with some of their key stakeholders, customers and critics. I was struck at how some people saw themselves as victims of critics of chemical use or manufacturers, or being put down or harmed by chemicals. One vocal group didn’t think that life expectancy had increased due to scientific advances – clearly medicines and health care weren’t important to fight their disease! Again several people commented about the ASA decision and numerous emails have come in from RSC members saying at long last, someone is addressing the issue that we live in a chemical world!
The CTPA have launched a great website, thefactsabout.co.uk, which sets the record straight on some of these chemical myths.
The last thing I want is to be seen as a pedant. So my offer of £1m still stands but I now want a ‘hall of infamy’: I want to see if we can compile a gallery of the worst use of science in advertising and marketing. It should be easy – they are all around us! If the ASA doesn’t have the courage to act to ensure that the public is not misled maybe the RSC can step in to help them. Here’s one to start you off…
Our first exhibit; notice top-left corner: "100% chemical free!" Amazing.
If you find any others, please let us know! Link us through a comment or send a pic by email to edwardsj at rsc dot org; we’ll feature good ones in our gallery.
Wed 26 Nov 2008 at 17:29
Hi Neville,
I’ve blogged this here.
I offer you The Lip Pencil, 100% Chemical free.
Ingredients kindly given:
Hydrogenated palm kernel glycerides, Talc, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, Hydrogenated palm glycerides, Rhus succedanea fruit wax, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Ascorbyl palmitate. [May contain: +/- Titanium dioxide (CI 77891), Mica (CI 77019), Manganese violet (CI 77742), Iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 30 (CI 73360), Carmine (CI 75470)]
So, yep, 100% chemical free.
T
Thu 27 Nov 2008 at 14:07
I can’t spot many chemical there then!
Neville
Thu 4 Dec 2008 at 15:20
I’ve put an article on my blog “My Soaps Aren’t Natural and They’re Full of Chemicals”.
Fri 9 Jan 2009 at 23:23
Hi Neville,
I hereby claim your £1000000.00 prize. If you will hold an usb stick in your hand I will deposit a video (100% chemical free) into it.
Please contact me at e-mail address given for instructions where to send a cheque…
Mon 26 Jan 2009 at 17:46
The USB is made of chemicals – so I’m afaid that won’t work! Sorry
Fri 17 Apr 2009 at 14:40
[...] and truly dead at the ASA. Pity then that they don’t take their roles more seriously over the 100% chemical free fertiliser. The £1 million prize is still on offer – perhaps a pint of courage might help the ASA to admit [...]