It's Time for Real ... Real What?!

The other day, I saw a commercial for Best Foods Mayo (after finally remembering to call it "Hellmans" on the East Coast, I know have to re-program myself so as not to sound completely ignorant). A mayo commercial? Really enlighting, eh? Okay, I didn't actually see said commercial, I overheard it, and I heard,

"It's time for Real."

I stopped to listen to find out whatever revolutionary health food was being advertised ... you can imagine my surprise when I realized it was for MAYONNAISE. *Gasp* The greasy stuff with a day's worth of saturated fat in a couple of tablespoons? It's like telling someone Egg Nog is good for them because it has eggs in it - and eggs have protein.

I jumped online to find out more - it appears that Mayo has gone health nuts with everyone else. No, Best Foods was not trying to sell some new fat-free version of mayo (though if they could actually make it taste like something not full of chemicals, I might be persuaded to try it again). They weren't even touting a low-fat or light version.

They were talking about how Mayo is part of a balanced diet (side note: I am the world's biggest fan of balanced diet - there are no "bad foods", but if there were, mayo would be pretty darn close). The tag line talks about "It's time for real eggs, oil and vinegar." They have links to Oprah's nutritionist and "healthy fats" recipes.

I appreciate the fact that Best Foods goes to the trouble to only have natural ingredients in their full-fat mayo (no way can anything be qualified as "natural" in the non-fat fake stuff), but, really, to imply it's healthy?

I'm still scratching my head over that.