Saffola's 'oil-soaked' ad gives readers a reality check 3 days after World Health Day

A massive print ad appeared on the front page of TOI, featuring a picture of pakodas placed among news articles

by e4m Desk
Published: Apr 12, 2024 1:20 PM | 1 min read

On April 10th, Marico's cooking oil brand Saffola launched a massive print ad on the front page of Times of India, making an important point about our health-related hypocrisies three days after World Health Day.

The ad features a picture of pakodas or bhajiyas placed smack in the centre of the newspaper, creating an illusion that the pakodas came wrapped in the newspaper the way roadside vendors sell them.

The paper around the pakodas appears oil-soaked. The ad is accompanied by the caption: "Salad on World Health Day. Back to Roadside Junk Today? One day of health talk isn't enough. It's what we do daily that shapes our health. Saffola, with its range of products, helps you take your 'Roz Ka Health Steps' towards better health."

The ad highlights how easy it is for people to fall off the wagon when it comes to making a commitment towards their health.

Interestingly, the ad has been embedded between news articles. At a glance, it seems like the ad has obscured the news, making it difficult for the readers to read them. However, on close observation, the word "advertorial" is printed on the right corner. This means that the news accompanying the ad are mock articles and part of the advertisement.