Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Photoshopped Amputation In Anti-Soda PSA Upsets Big Soda
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 25, 2012
Modified Jan 25, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 25, 2012
Modified Jan 25, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It has been revealed that the New York City Health Department photoshopped an overweight man's leg out of an ad tying larger portion sizes to Type 2 diabetes and limb amputations. We received a noble press release from the good folks at the American Beverage Association blasting the lying liars at the DOH: “This is another example of the ‘What can we get away with?’ approach that shapes these taxpayer-funded ad campaign." Or is it a reasonable tactic against the larded Leviathans and their relentless lobbyists?
We hate Nanny State overreach as much as any redblooded, park-smoking New Yorker. But remember who the DOH is fighting against for ad space in our brains. McDonald's has LeBron, Pepsi has David Beckham, and we get upset if the city gets an intern to use Photoshop? Image altering is bad, but blatant sexism is savvy!
There are literally armies of scientists with unlimited budgets who are coming up with chemicals and additives to make us hopelessly addicted to consumable matter that may or may not be classified as food.
And we're supposed to be upset that New York City's department of health may have used a photo illustration to prove the point that drinking lots of soda may cause Type 2 diabetes which causes some patients to have their limbs amputated? BUT THE PHOTO ISN'T REAL!!!1!!!!!1!
What is real is the $13 million the American Beverage Association spent lobbying Albany in 2010, and the $211 million it spent nationwide to make sure that we continue nursing the corny teat until nobody can see their genitals or tie their shoes in 20 years. The DOH's budget? That got cut [pdf]. Fight flame-broiled Fire with Fudged Fire, and so it goes.
Health Department spokesman John Kelly responds to the "controversy," in the Times: “We might stop using actors in our ads if the food industry stops using actors in theirs.” Amen. Next time, maybe use a photo of a can of Fanta abducting a child on a subway platform and unplugging respirators.
And Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson brings up a good point: what is the Times hiding?
We'd also humbly add: are fast food chains still palling around with terrorists?
Tagged
department of health
diabetes
fast food
mcdonald's
nanny state
obesity epidemic
soda
soda lobby
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .