Fake news is a real thing. So are diet fads. Recently these two concepts came together in a surprising and instructive way – bottled hot dog water.
Earlier this month, unfiltered “hot dog water” was offered for sale at a festival in Vancouver, British Columbia. This beverage du jour was touted as supporting weight loss, increasing brain function, and providing a more youthful appearance. The drink was also advertised as being gluten-free and rich in sodium and electrolytes. At $38 per bottle, people ate, er, drank it up.
What’s sad is that folks missed the point. The product was being offered as a stunt – to convey a message about all of the misleading health marketing and news out there.
Self-styled Hot Dog Water CEO Douglas Bevans reported to Global News that the water was created by “a lot of people with backgrounds in science.”
“Hot Dog Water is the NEW coconut water!” read one spoofed testimonial from a Dr. Cynthia Dringus, “Nobel Prize-winning nutritionist.”
Of course, this was all tongue-in-cheek, but some people took the bait.
Bevans’ stall sold bottles of the water for $37.99 (or two-for-$75 for Father’s Day!), according to Global News. The booth also had accessory items like hot dog water lip balm, breath spray, and body fragrance for sale.
This booth that sells unfiltered hot dog water is hands down the strangest thing at Car-Free day, and I have no idea – literally none – as to whether it is real or an elaborate stunt pic.twitter.com/NK2KcTfnHm
— Moebius Stripper (@moebius_strip) June 17, 2018
“They’ve been drinking it for hours,” he said. “We have gone through about 60 liters of real hot dog water.”
Let this also be a reminder always to read the fine print. At the bottom of the of the product’s sales pitch material was the following message:
“Hot Dog Water in its absurdity hopes to encourage critical thinking related to product marketing and the significant role it can play in our purchasing choices.”
Bevans later revealed that it was all a stunt to encourage people to think critically about health products, how much they spend on them, and exactly what we choose to put in our bodies.
What a great reminder to not believe everything you read or hear. You could end up with misconceptions about what’s real news and what isn’t. And, in this case, with an upset stomach.
Check Out: How To Spot A Fake News Story On Facebook
