Firms cash in on edible advertising

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http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/04/01/pm-firms-cash-in-on-edible-advertising/

When you walk go into a grocery store, there are ads everywhere -- there are ads on the milk cartons, ads on the floor, there are ads on the very shopping carts we push around. Sometimes it seems like advertising is consuming us. But now, we're consuming advertising. Science lets us change the color and sometimes even the shapes of the foods we grow. And Madison Avenue has the recipe.

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Check this out. As Will's burger cooks, a picture of a pickle appears on the burger. It gets darker the longer it stays over the flame. When the meat reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit Mr. Pickle looks like he's waving.

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This new technology, synthetic biology, means we can now engineer naturally occurring bacteria and have them moved or grouped together in patterns. And they can then secrete colors visible to the naked eye.

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So this ice-cream maker and Groupon created a co-branded line of cones with coupons inside the ice cream. You take a bite of your ice cream and there's a secret code. It's like something out of Willy Wonka.


this is marketplace's april fools story

[glowing]

1. It says April's Fool

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2. aw, c'mon, don't spoil it for everyone!

[Auggie]

3. I JUST heard this on NPR while driving...

and believed it!

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. Is nothing sacred anymore? Ads in your ice cream?! Jesus.

[Mojeoux]

5. Gross! Oh please don't let this catch on!!

Some day will our grandchildren just take pictures on food for granted? Oh YUCK!