RSPCA 'bemused' by ketchup advert

BBC NEWS ^ | 23 November, 2004 | A.N.Other

[ijcr]

A television advert that shows a guinea pig drinking Heinz tomato ketchup has been criticised by the RSPCA.

The commercial features a guinea pig in a cage drinking ketchup instead of water and finishes with the slogan "You can't eat without it".

The RSPCA says it sends out the wrong message to pet owners because water is an essential part of the animals' diet.

Heinz insisted the advert was a joke meant to imply that everything tastes better with its tomato ketchup.

The advert appears during commercial breaks for Emmerdale, as part of Heinz's sponsorship of the ITV1 soap.

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said the charity was "bemused" by the advert.

She said: "Water is an essential part of a guinea pig's diet and we wouldn't recommend replacing it with ketchup.

"A small amount of ketchup as a treat now and again shouldn't do any harm as long as there is plenty of water available.

"We recommend feeding guinea pigs a diet of hay and grass and good quality cereal mix."

A Heinz spokesman said: "The advert is about exaggerating the fact that all foods taste better with Heinz Tomato Ketchup and in no way is Heinz encouraging families to copy the adverts."

[ijcr]

Teeerayza is back at work.

[CitadelArmyJag]

In Andean countries they eat those little fuzzballs

[sdpatriot]

let them go naked for a while..

[CitadelArmyJag]

They are actually pretty tasty. I have never eaten one weened on pure ketchup. Now there's an idea!

[cripplecreek]

ketchup contains water.

[50sDad]

She said: "Water is an essential part of a guinea pig's diet and we wouldn't recommend replacing it with ketchup.

Translation: "You morons out on the other side of the TV screen are so effin stupid, we'd better warn you not to do a moronic thing, just because an obviously silly, humorous TV ad does it."

The lady went on to ask "Can I get me a huntin' license here?"

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I am relieved to see that the RSPCA does not have a sense of humor.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Pet peeve alert:

"A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said the charity was "bemused" by the advert."

According to my dictionary, "bemuse" means either: "to make confused", as in BEWILDER; or 2 "to occupy the attention of". I assume advert "occupied the attention" of the animists, since they obviously watched it enough to issue a protest, so I don't think that's what they meant. So, they must have been "confused" by it.

There has been a "meteoric rise" in the misuse of "bemuse". Oh, the humanity!

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Would that make them taste like chicken with ketchup?

[Recall]

The real problem with it is it's Heinz ketchup not Hunts or Del Monte

[tjwmason]

This is actually indicative of a sea-change in the R.S.P.C.A.

Formerly it was a laudable charity which sought to improve the treatment of animals (in recognition of which it received the 'Royal' in its name). However, it has become an organisation which campaigns for P.C. animal causes (such as the hunting ban). It is a pity that it has chosen this course, before everybody could look to it as an example of a worthy charity, but now it has become sectarian, and embraces the neo-puritan British left-wing.

[7thson]

I wonder if Heinz told them to shove it?

[atomicpossum]

Charities always spot an opportunity for free publicity. Even when they have to play stupid to get it.