Food Advertising

When you see a picture of a food product in a commercial or a magazine, it has been manipulated to look the best it can. Some of these items will not stand up to a long photo session, and these are some of the tricks used to make our favorite foods look good.

Cereal - If they used real milk, the cereal would be soggy. Ads often use yogurt, shampoo, or white glue in place of milk.


Steaming Hot - A sponge or cotton ball is soaked in water and then heated in the microwave. When hidden behind the item being photographed, it looks like steam coming from the food iteself.


Grill Marks - Meat may be cooked on top with a blowtorch. Then, grill marks are added with a branding iron or shoe polish. Underneath, it is all raw which keeps it from shrinking in the cooking process.


Fruit gets sprayed with hairspray so it looks (and stays) just right.


Pancakes may be covered in gooey, thick motor oil instead of syrup (new stuff, not dark from an actual engine). Spray starch or fabric protector keeps the 'syrup' on top of the pancakes rather than soaking in.


And soda just doesn't keep its fizz long enough for the photo shoot, so an Alka-Seltzer brings the bubbles back.

Video Example: