Product Safety and Advertisement

Power of Advertisement

Companies are known to invest a lot in getting their products recognized by the consumers. One of the marketing Ps is on promotion. One way of doing this product advertising which is used to convince the potential customers as to why they should choose a certain product. The advertisements highlight the features of the products and the value that the customers can acquire from them. Sometimes, this practice is misused by some companies which becomes unfair and deceptive in the process. Some companies provide misleading information through misrepresentation of the actual status to the consumers. Below is a discussion of some companies whose ads have been considered to have extended the acceptable limit.

Recently, an ad by a clothing line H & M has sparkle global uproar for it racist implication. The cloth-line had black young boy modeling with one of their printed hooded tops. The hood worn by the young black read that, “Coolest monkey in the jungle” The message did not bring out the intended meaning as most people viewed this a racist message. The company had to issue an apology and give an assurance that the hood would be removed from the cloth line (McGough, 2018). I believe that while the intention may have been good, the message crossed the accepted line. The word, “Monkey,” is the one of those regarded as racist words towards black people, especially in Europe. The situation was worsened by having a black boy modeling it. The company later realized that they are gone beyond the limit.

Another company that was unfair in its advertisement is Johnson & Johnson Company. A recent controversy that faced the company is the blood-thinner Xarelto drug that was promoted as an anticoagulant and Factor Xa-inhibitor. The company did not, however, let the public know of the side effects of using the drug. The drug has been associated with severe side effects and even led to deaths. The company has been sued to this and found liable for the deception (Acker, 2013). The FDA indicated that the company had given inaccurate advertising. This was going beyond the line as it withheld the information that have mattered and even saved lives of the few people who died out of these side-effects.

Government regulation

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) can be said to be reactive in handling its mandate. This can be established form its nature of operations. The commission is seen to act after a violation has occurred. On its website, the commission indicates the violations that have been discovered. It issues a letter of advice after a violation of a mandatory standard has happened. This implies that directs an action after a violation has been discovered.

The Food and Drug Administration is tasked with the responsibility of protecting the public by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security in human and veterinary drugs, medical devices, biological products, and safety of radiation-emitting products. The FDA can be said to be taking proactive measures to achieving its mandate today. Recently, the FDA announced new measures it was taken to increase transparency of clinical trial information. This will provide a route-map for new drugs. It has also taken action aimed at protecting kids from serious risks of opioid ingredients in a prescription cough and cold.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the December holidays, held an Annual Drive Sober or get pulled over campaign. The aim of this was to raise awareness among the public on the danger of drunk driving in the country. This was a proactive measure of try accidents that may be resulted from drunk driving during the festive period (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2017).

Public Service Announcement

Seeing a parent injecting their kid with drugs shocked me. This was a very irresponsible and illegal act. My first though was that the mother needs to be jail. I feel that this advertisement is inappropriate. This is because it tries to produce an effect on morality using an example of legality. Feeding the children with junk food is a moral question while injection with drugs is an illegal act. The intention of the video is appropriate, but it could have been done in a way that did not involve an illegal act or drugs.

References

Acker, J. (2013). J &J Sued for Downplaying Risks or Xarelto. Retrieved from https://www.law360.com/articles/701671/j-j-bayer-sued-for-downplaying-risks-of-xarelto

McGough, M. (2018). H & M ad Seen as Racist Prompts Destructive Protests and Store Closure in South Africa. Retrieved from http://www.fresnobee.com/article194620099.html

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2017). U.S DOT Urges Drivers This Holiday Season to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/us-dot-urges-drivers-holiday-season-drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over