HFCS Spoofs in Bad Taste

Mix together satirical comments that lead poisoning, female genital mutilation and the Ku Klux Klan are good for you and serve them up with a scary transvestite and you get some very tasteless “spoofs” on a “Sweet Surprise” ad for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

The real ad features mothers at a children’s party discussing high fructose corn syrup in a fruit flavored drink being served to the kiddies. One woman comments that the woman pouring the drinks must not care what the kids eat because, “you know what they say” about HFCS, but she can’t explain what is so bad about it. So, she changes the subject and compliments the server on her blouse.

The New York Times article last week about HFCS was kind enough to draw attention to some very disturbing spoofs on the ad, made by two Los Angeles “comedians,” featuring “a man in drag playing the syrup-loving mom, though this time she is also defending lead from China, female genital mutilation (“It’s safe in moderation”) and K.K.K. cross-burning.” Yet another sick one that can be found on YouTube spoofs that ad by replacing HCFS with Nazism. Cute.

I think of a spoof being something that is satirical AND amusing. These so-called spoofs are mean, nasty and downright scary. If you want to make fun, at least be funny. These just leave a bad taste in your mouth.