There has already been much controversy about the Limburg Asparagus cream soup of Honig. This product was nominated for the election of the "Golden wind egg” 2011 by Foodwatch. The “Golden wind egg” is annually awarded by Foodwatch to the food manufacturer that sells the most misleading product. The Limburg Asparagus cream soup of Honig eventually finished in fourth place.
The Dutch Advertising Code Commission (RCC), however, recently ruled that the package of the Limburg Asparagus cream soup does not give the consumer false expectations. The soup actually contains asparagus. The (small) amount of 0.5% is shown in the list of ingredients. The name of the product only tells the specific flavor and the characteristic ingredients of which the product consists of. The RCC, once again, assumes that the "average” consumer reads the list of ingredients on the label to find out what exactly is in the product (see Johma scharreleisalade)
Also according to the RCC, by seeing the name "Limburg Asparagus cream soup" the consumer will not think that the product actually comes from Limburg or (only) contains ingredients from Limburg. The word 'Limburg' refers to the special recipe of the soup (with parsley and chervil), making it a “surprising taste”; nothing more, nothing less. The RCC also finds it not misleading to not specifically mention that the soup is a “base soup". The ‘vegetable tip' on the back of the package shows clearly that other ingredients can be added to the soup. So, in fact the soup is a "base soup".
So again: What’s in a name?
Read the decision here .
Eva Rog - den Ouden, advertising lawyer in the Netherlands
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There has already been much controversy about the Limburg Asparagus cream soup of Honig. This product was nominated for the election of the "Golden wind egg” 2011 by Foodwatch. The “Golden wind egg” is annually awarded by Foodwatch to the food manufacturer that sells the most misleading product. The Limburg Asparagus cream soup of Honig eventually finished in fourth place.
The Dutch Advertising Code Commission (RCC), however, recently ruled that the package of the Limburg Asparagus cream soup does not give the consumer false expectations. The soup actually contains asparagus. The (small) amount of 0.5% is shown in the list of ingredients. The name of the product only tells the specific flavor and the characteristic ingredients of which the product consists of. The RCC, once again, assumes that the "average” consumer reads the list of ingredients on the label to find out what exactly is in the product (see Johma scharreleisalade)
Also according to the RCC, by seeing the name "Limburg Asparagus cream soup" the consumer will not think that the product actually comes from Limburg or (only) contains ingredients from Limburg. The word 'Limburg' refers to the special recipe of the soup (with parsley and chervil), making it a “surprising taste”; nothing more, nothing less. The RCC also finds it not misleading to not specifically mention that the soup is a “base soup". The ‘vegetable tip' on the back of the package shows clearly that other ingredients can be added to the soup. So, in fact the soup is a "base soup".
So again: What’s in a name?
Read the decision here .
Eva Rog - den Ouden, advertising lawyer in the Netherlands