Created by a School Teacher!

Rob Walker in the New York Times two weeks ago drew attention to the success of Airborne, a hit successful cough-and-cold remedy. He pointed out that the slogan used on the package “Created by a School Teacher!” trades on the mistrust people have in the pharmaceutical industry and which they are now placing in folk wisdom. They reckon that a school teacher surrounded by sniffling children is more than capable of compounding a mixture of herbs, vitamins, and minerals that will boost her natural immunity.

It’s more likely that her immunity is boosted by the sniffling kids around her, rather than anything she consumes. Frequent exposure to the full range of common cold viruses provides the best immunity from further infection – see how few colds older folk develop each year, compared with young parents.

We’ve nothing against taking vitamins if your diet isn’t as good as it should be, or if you have diagnosed deficiency. But a good multivitamin will be far cheaper than compounded remedies like Airborne, and do just as much good. Spend the money you save on a good (healthy) meal.