It’s true that food stylists – those who arranged and photograph food for those tempting photos you see in ads and in restaurants – sometimes create ingenious concoctions to stand in for the real thing under the hot lights of the studio.
Mashed potatoes are sometimes substituted for ice cream. So are recipes involving shortening and confectioners sugar. But when it comes to photos used in advertising, the Federal Trade Commission has deemed that real ice cream must be used in ice cream ads. However, if the ads are for the ice cream cone or a hot fudge topping, a phony ice cream concoction can be used.
So what’s being used in the photo below: Real ice cream or an imposter? We’re not sure, but it sure looks good!
Tags: advertising, ice cream
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
Well, at least it’s not “yellow” ice cream.
not enough ice cream on that cone for
me.need twice that at least.
Looks like mashed potatoes to me
The texture looks to much like mashed potatoes,I wonder what they use for chocolate?
That’s definitely mashed potatoes! I saw a show on Food Network about this. It was interesting.
My mother would love it if it is mashed potatoes! She loves them too.
pretzel loves unite, chocolate and pretzels yummmmm vote
mashed potatoes.
If mashed potatoes, then it’s an ad for the waffle cone. The cone should look better, so I vote it’s ice cream.
mashed potatoes definitely
Wow I never knew all ice cream photos were real. This ice cream sure looks delicious, I would love some Turkey Hill right now.
I’m with everyone else… Looks like mashed taters.
Definately mash potatoes! looks goog though…..mmmm, also interesting point what would they use for chocolate now i’m curious.
Looks like mashed potatoes to me. Will you tell us the answer?
yeah, i think it looks like mashed potatoes too
Certainly mashed potatoes.
yes, mashed potatos scary when you think of what they use for chocolate
The first time I had Coconut Ice Cream in Puerto Rico, it looked like the ice cream in this cone?? What is it really??
It definitely looks like real mashed potatoes. I think I can even see some lumps in there
Definitely, the texture looks like mashed potatoes. Turkey Hill’s vanilla ice creams consistency is so smooth and creamy that I lean toward the mashed potato, but photography can be tricky.
I agree with everyone that it’s mashed potatoes. Ice cream would be melting a little bit and plain vanilla does not have lumps. However, it still makes you want to have some of the real thing. Thank goodness I have some Turkey Hill in my freezer!
I also have to go with mashed potatoes.
definitely mashed potatoes. I’d much rather have the vanilla ice cream!
It has to be mashed potatoes or else you took the picture in the freezer. I’ll take mine in a bowl though so you can give me more.
Whats next , potatoe flavored ice cream?
My taste buds are defintely connected to my eyeballs…..serve this one with
Turkey and Trimmings !!!
George DeRaleau
Mashed Potatoes! That’s OK as long as I get the real thing when I buy the container.
It sure does look like mashed potatoes. Can I have a slab of butter or at least some gravy on that with a side of steak and of course Turkey Hill ice cream as a salad!
yes, I seen this for presentations;;;; looks nice for photos
Just needs some hot fudge over the top
Intresting-I’ll look closer now when I see an ad w/Ice Cream on it.
I vote for mashed potatoes in the cone but I’d much rather have the real thing, especially if it is Turkey Hill.
I’ve done a few commercials with food, and the first thing they tell you on set is “DON’T EAT THE FOOD!” I’ve seen all the “movie magic” that makes it look delectable on the tv… it’s no wonder I can never make it look like that at home!
Still waiting for my chance to shoot a commercial with my favorite Turkey Hill Baked Apple Dumpling ice cream…. Ahhhh… :::drooling:::
It’s gotta be the imposter. Doesn’t look like the Turkey Hill vanilla that was in my cone last night. I have a date with Turkey Hill ice cream every night at 10 o’clock!
Mashed potatoes. If you hadn’t mentioned mashed potatoes, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. Might be useful on April 1.
Gertrude Hawk Box of Chocolates is the best! Wish it was around all year long.
I was truly surprised that mashed potatoes is substituted in ads. I don’t really care what they photograph as long as there is real ice cream in the container. By the way, Turkey Hill is the BEST ice cream out there!
I think it is mashed potatoes, you can see the butter in them. I like potatoes, but I love Turkey Hill Ice Cream better. Linda
Mashed! Put in a few green peas for St. Pat’s and you have “vegessert”!
I don’t want no stinking mashed potatoes, give my my Turkey Hill Vanilla Bean please!
I worked in a restaurant where we crafted ala mode desserts and sundaes for display using shortening. We didn’t have mashed potatoes, but I found that pie dough looked better. Either way seemed like a crime.
Looks like mashed potatoes. Please don’t invent mashed potatoes ice cream. Maybe its Venice Ice! Maybe Pina Colada with chocolate ice, how about that invention??
Love both – mashed potatoes and vanilla ice cream -however, not sure this flavor of ice cream would go over well…although mashed potatoes in a waffle cone is something to think about…
Hi everyone, I knew that they would and did use mash potatoe in some picture. The heat will melt the ice cream. I jst love turkey hill ice cream.
i would like to think they used both…since you need milk to make mashed potatoes perhaps vanilla ice cream was substituted for the milk…and…voila!
Looks like mashed potatoes to me, too.
I really don’t care what they use to make a product more photographic. In the end a products good is measured by the consumer.
does not look like ice cream
Looks like mashed potatoes to me!!!!
Never understand why just plain good ole coffee flavor doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Ya can’t go wrong, you can even throw just about anything on top of it and it gets even better.
Looks like Mashed potatoes, now that I know they use them for photos.
Yea that defintely looks like mashed potatoes.
“Tis said that a “picture is worth a thousand words”. I don’t know if the product on cone is ice cream or not, but it starts me “salivating” for some Turkey Hill ice cream and that’s what advertising is all about! Bring on the TH in cone or dish and I’ll be happy to do my part – EAT and ENJOY!
I LOVE THE THIN MINT
Looks like mashed potatoes to me. I’d rather have Moose Tracks!
I must agree that it does not look like TH vanilla ice cream! I do believe that the photographer used mashed potatoes.
Hmph! I’m puzzled! What is it??
Since it is definitely not Turkey Hill’s Gertrude Hawk Box of Chocolates ( which I am suffering withdrawl symptoms from ), it just does not matter what it is.
Does that mean that in certain commercials for ice cream cones where actors take a big bite or lick of the treat they are holding, that they are actually getting a mouth full of mashed potatoes?!! I certainly feel sorry for them. They must be getting paid a nice amount (or rewarded with real ice cream after). I don’t think I would be able to do it though. I could not fake a smile and such satisfaction with mashed potatoes! With the picture they paint in commercials of a hot day, sweaty and humid…just having the luscious lick of ice cream melt and entertain your taste buds is the perfect answer. Not a heavy, flavorless, mass of mush potatoes in your mouth. I don’t care how much I was being paid, I would have to spit it out. At least I would get to go home to my freezer and crack open a container of Turkey Hill and reward myself that way:)
True, it does look like mashed p otatoes, but photos fool you. I’d have to lick it to say for sure. Glad to have all your peanut butter ice creams back on the market. luv them all
Hey we can pretend whatever we want-so I am pretending real ice cream.
So now I’m wondering what gets used to photograph Moose Tracks…mashed potatoes with peanut butter cups? And what imposters would get used for the other TH flavors? I love this blog-it’s a never ending supply of food for thought!
Thanks Turkey Hill for being a scoop above the rest..
The photo looks too perfect to be real ice cream. It should have a little bit of a melted look i.e somewhat shiny. Pictures could be worth a thousand words but eating Turkey Hill ice cream is better than looking at a picture of it.
put a bit of peanut butter fudge and whip cream on top and it would be a great meal
Looks like mashed potatoes or non-ice cream to me. Let’s have a taste test to be sure!
looks like potatoes,but what so I know, I only ate them every night of my life.
It looks like mashed potatoes to me now that you mention it.
It sure holds itself together long enough for a picture w/o melting.
That’s why I think its mashed potatoes.
[...] talked about it before on the Ice Cream Journal (here). Hopefully you have some real ice cream in the freezer though. And if you don’t, go get some [...]
chocolate is the best and that cone looks lik emashed pots
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