October 10, 2011

Pure pleasure, 50s style —What were they thinking?



The text reads:
This young man is 11 months old—and he isn't our youngest customer by any means.

For 7-Up is so pure, so wholesome you can even give it to babies and feel good about it. Look at the back of a 7-Up bottle. Notice that all our ingredients are listed. That isn't required of soft drinks, you know—but we're proud to do it and we think you're pleased that we do.

By the way Mom, when it comes to toddlers—if they like to be coaxed to drink their milk, try this. Add 7-Up to the milk in equal parts, pouring the 7-Up gently into the milk. It's a wholesome combination—and it works!
I just want to say, please, vegan parents, use non-dairy milk.



Did people really do this? Can you imagine what would happen if an add like this were to appear today?

19 comments:

  1. No wonder so many people are hooked on soda today! I guess I'm no surprised that they used to have ads like this, but wow. Still shocking!

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  2. I have never heard of giving soda to a baby; that's new!

    Over the weekend I saw quite a few questionable advertising relics at the NY Transit museum. One in particular was a call for volunteers; they wanted typists, huggers (?), and TICKLERS! It was accompanied by quite the uncomfortable set of photographs.

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  3. Amazing, ha! I think my husband's dad used to dip his pacifier in soda. And I know someone who gets her kids to drink vegetable juice by adding Sprite. :)

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  4. Molly,
    Do you think people really give soda to babies? I once saw a mother give her toddler a jelly sandwich on white bread and demand that the child eat her "lunch" before getting dessert, so I guess anything is possible.

    Abby,
    Very creepy. I would hate to run into a volunteer tickler. Eeewww.

    Jenny,
    As in veggie soda? That doesn't sound good to me.

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  5. LOL! I'm having trouble imagining the combo of half cow's milk/half 7-Up. blech

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  6. Whaaaaaaaaat. That was messed up, but when it suggested mixing 7up with breast milk...that's just crazy bus.

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  7. Oh, yes, I can definitely see that happening. People around here seem more concerned that their kids eat their meat & drink their milk vs. eat their veggies, so I think that's the same kind of mindset, sadly.

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  8. Nanette,
    Bleh is right. And it doesn't seem much more appetizing with almond milk, either.

    Andy,
    Indeed.

    weeforks,
    eeewwww.

    Molly,
    Maybe.

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  9. As appalling as the ad is, it's pretty interesting from a historical point of view (Almost like those old Aunt Jemima ads!) Where did you find it?

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  10. foodfeud,
    One was sent to me with a bunch of other stuff in an email forward, then I googled around to find more information. I thought it would make an offbeat mofo post. More to come.

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  11. I know this is completely off topic, but does the baby in the second ad have a faux-hawk? classy.

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  12. I cannot even begin to contemplate mixing milk with 7-Up. Do you really think people did that? Gross!

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  13. radioactive,
    I hadn't noticed, but now that you mention it, I believe the babe does.

    Claire,
    (I think I was commenting on your blog the exact same time you were on this one.) I suspect that some people really did mix 7-up with milk, but I'm sure we don't know any of them. :)

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  14. I'm sure some people gave soda to babies back then and didn't think twice about it. The only time I got 7-up as a kid, was whenever I had a upset tummy. :-)

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  15. Wow.. that is shocking.... blows my mind.

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  16. Holy cow!! That is one crazy ad!! Can't believe that it actually existed. When I first saw your post, I thought it was a spoof you created. LOL

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  17. Hiliarious! I've had e-mails sent to me with ads from the 1950's showing such outdated ideas. We sure have come along way, maybe.

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  18. Chow vegan,
    I got ginger ale when my stomach was upset. My uncle was a pediatrician, and that was his advice. Actually, it seemed to work.

    Melody,
    Seems weird to me, but probably some people followed the advice.

    Veganosaurus,
    No, these are real ads. There is a spoof ad floating around involving cola and babies, but these two are real. They just seem unbelievably fake.

    Blessedmama,
    Maybe.

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