Advertising goes a long way to making me want to eat fast food. I am a simple man, and I am willing to be lied to when I am hungry. But advertising and reality are rarely the same, and whenever I open up that fast food packaging, disappointment always preludes my gorging.
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19 people across 13 states are opening up a lawsuit against renowned burger chain Burger King for their false advertising, claiming that the images they show of their burgers grossly exaggerate their size. They're not wrong.
Burgers in Burger King's advertising look like something out of a dream. The Whopper is the size of the model's head. Lucious, nuclear green lettuce bursts from the side, with rivers of sauce running over it. A patty larger than even the golden seeded bun looks thick and juicy. In reality, a Whopper can usually be held in one hand and looks like it's been constructed by throwing the various soggy elements from one side of the kitchen into the box.
The group took the burger chain to court, stating, "Burger King is taking advantage of its customers by falsely advertising the size of its food." They stated that their advertisements "go beyond mere exaggeration or puffery."
They claim that the burger used in Burger King's Whopper advertising contains double meat and is 35% bigger. An oddly precise claim.
Burger King's Sweet Little Size Lies
Burger King argues that sure, they "styled sandwiches more beautifully" than workers do in their restaurant. But the patty and ingredients are still the same. They've just spruced them up for advertising purposes.
I guess it's the same way when the person people see when I am out on the town, smartly dressed and freshly trimmed, it's the same greasy slob sitting here writing about burgers at home. Same filling, different presentation.
Burger King has stuck to their guns, claiming the size and construction of their burger is consistent with their advertising. "The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of burgers we serve to guests across the U.S." they stated in the court hearing.
They also claimed that most reasonable customers know that advertised burgers are never going to look like the real deal. That is true, but it doesn't make it fair. I'm already disappointed enough in myself when I order a Whopper. Opening the box up to find a punched-out monstrosity only makes it worse.
