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Is low-carb passe? Or does the media just want it to be over?

Published Tuesday, July 27, 2004 by seanlmccarthy | E-mail this post

The media pack has begun ringing the first death bells for the low-carb craze, based on the stock market analysis of Kellogg's CEO, of all people. If the boss of a company that makes cereals, waffles, cookies and crackers says the low-carb diet is done, then he must be right, right? This comes in the same week as Kraft Foods rolls out new low-carb Oreos, and in the same week as Krispy Kreme announced the launch of its new glazed doughnut drink. Insert your own Homer Simpson reference here. What is most interesting, though, is how the media jumps at the chance to knock down the latest fashion -- whether it's a presidential candidate, a popular TV show or, in this case, a dieting trend. The media pack tends to follow an all-too predictable cycle with trends like these...first by failing to recognize the trend, since it doesn't impact them personally, then pretending to discover the trend when their editor or their boss takes a liking to it, then poking the trend for any signs of weakness, and jumping for joy when the trend is done.
There is something even more interesting about the media's handling of Krispy Kreme, however, and that is the subject of a future post.

Related stories: Low-carb Oreos, do we still care?
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Can a doughnut drink save Krispy Kreme?