[jimbo2012]

After all the pink slime and horse meat fiascoes consumers have endured recently, the word “meat” just isn’t working up the appetite like it used to. One euphemism you might see more of at lunchtime: “protein.”

On July 25, Taco Bell (YUM) will start testing a new “Power Protein” menu in Ohio aimed at health-conscious consumers. It will include items with more than 20 grams of protein and less than 450 calories per serving, such as a burrito and a bowl, both served with a double portion of chicken or steak. The menu is already being tested under the name “Fresco Power” in Southern California.

Missy Schaaphok, nutritionist and product manager for Taco Bell, says in an e-mail that the company is using the “protein” label on its new menu “because of the ingredients in the items.” The emphasis on nutrition, rather than meatiness, is one consumers are likely to notice. Data from Infegy—a company that analyzes user-generated content on blogs, social-media accounts, and other online sources—shows that 43 percent of conversations about “meat” over the last six months were negative and often included such words as “bad,” “concerns,” and “problem.”

On the other hand, only 6 percent of conversations about “protein” were negative. Most people associated it with words like “good”, “healthy,” and “delicious.” The result: Some 91 percent of conversations about the “Power Protein” menu have been positive, according to Infegy.

Taco Bell hopes the menu will appeal to both men and women (unlike the Taco Bell Fresco menu, which has done better with women). Infegy says that so far, more women are talking about “Power Protein.” The menu is part of Taco Bell’s recent commitment to making a healthier menu by 2020.

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[rubicon]

After 40 years in corporate life immunity from euphemisms is a stable. Euphemisms are key in political debate (i.e. investment means spending, etc) So call it protein, call it what you want but I am not confident that experts are really all that expert as evident about the number of times they reverse themselves. and so I will read and I will digest what they say but .......................well a man's got to do what a man got to do and I do not feel it is my proper place to judge other people's habits, habits of course that do not impeded the safety, etc of society

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

After all the pink slime and horse meat fiascoes consumers have endured recently, the word “meat” just isn’t working up the appetite like it used to. One euphemism you might see more of at lunchtime: “protein.”

On July 25, Taco Bell (YUM) will start testing a new “Power Protein” menu in Ohio aimed at health-conscious consumers. It will include items with more than 20 grams of protein and less than 450 calories per serving, such as a burrito and a bowl, both served with a double portion of chicken or steak. The menu is already being tested under the name “Fresco Power” in Southern California.

Missy Schaaphok, nutritionist and product manager for Taco Bell, says in an e-mail that the company is using the “protein” label on its new menu “because of the ingredients in the items.” The emphasis on nutrition, rather than meatiness, is one consumers are likely to notice. Data from Infegy—a company that analyzes user-generated content on blogs, social-media accounts, and other online sources—shows that 43 percent of conversations about “meat” over the last six months were negative and often included such words as “bad,” “concerns,” and “problem.”

On the other hand, only 6 percent of conversations about “protein” were negative. Most people associated it with words like “good”, “healthy,” and “delicious.” The result: Some 91 percent of conversations about the “Power Protein” menu have been positive, according to Infegy.

Taco Bell hopes the menu will appeal to both men and women (unlike the Taco Bell Fresco menu, which has done better with women). Infegy says that so far, more women are talking about “Power Protein.” The menu is part of Taco Bell’s recent commitment to making a healthier menu by 2020.

source

It's all based on the idea that fast-food customers are basically attracted to anything that tastes good. They just don't want to be reminded that it's meat? Well, when they hold it, look at it, and bite into it, what will they think they are eating? Will Taco Bell hypnotize their customers into thinking: "This isn't meat, this is protein!" Huh?

How dumb do they think their customers are?

[graciegirl]

I feel like saying Boy Howdy.

[KayakerNC]

Kind of like Breyers Ice Cream which, IMHO, used to be the best ice cream ever!
Now, since they got sold out, when you look on the shelves you will see a product called (in not very big letters) "Frozen Dairy Desert".
I guess with all the additives and less real cream, they had to call it something.
So, if TB wants to call it protein, I would assume that it doesn't have enough meat to be called "meat".

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

How dumb do they think their customers are?

The real ? is how uninformed 99% of the US population is about what they consume.

[batman911]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Kind of like Breyers Ice Cream which, IMHO, used to be the best ice cream ever!
Now, since they got sold out, when you look on the shelves you will see a product called (in not very big letters) "Frozen Dairy Desert".
I guess with all the additives and less real cream, they had to call it something.
So, if TB wants to call it protein, I would assume that it doesn't have enough meat to be called "meat".

Switch to Blue Bell. It is still real ice cream.