Vintage ad: "Bovril makes one influenza proof"

Thanks to Ian for this classic advert, seemingly dating to around the flu pandemic 1918. Just like the classic "Guinness is good for you" ads, Bovril tried to get in on the action by claiming their beef stock drink has prophylactic powers:

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It seems to be a whole campaign, appearing everywhere, from pubs to plates, to magazines.

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Thanks to the Advertising Standards Authority, private companies can no longer make unfounded medical claims for their products. It's not like anyone is profiteering from the current swine flu panic is it?

Oh wait, except chiropractors. And homeopaths. And herb sellers. The spamdemic is the best thing to happen to quacks since the last major global health scare.

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I'm guessing that Bovril does more to help you combat influenza than chiropractic or homeopathy...at least it's got a little nutrition in it.

I'm personally a fan of calling it the aporkalypse. And I'm not sick, so I get to enjoy ridiculously cheap bacon. oh hell yes.

I found this old ad from Toronto: "The Secret's Out! Santa Claus Drinks BOVRIL the only reliable fluid beef And Never Grows Older"