1899 Cadbury’s Cocoa Advert – Pure Food Campaign, British Medical Journal

Description

1899 Cadbury’s Cocoa Advert – Pure Food Campaign, British Medical Journal

Bold 1899 Cadbury’s cocoa advertisement highlighting health warnings and purity claims, backed by The British Medical Journal — a fascinating example of early food safety marketing.

Measurements: approx. 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches
Dates: 1899
Source: Overseas Daily Mail
Condition: In decent vintage condition. Please inspect images for quality.
Internal notes: QC passed

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This striking, typographically bold cocoa advertisement from 1899 captures a moment when food purity became a central concern in public discourse. Printed in a rich crimson hue on pale paper, the piece opens with the declaration: “Important Caution” — urging the public to avoid adulterated cocoa powders with added stimulants or fillers.

Cadbury’s presents its cocoa as “absolutely pure” and free from tampering, citing a contemporaneous article from The British Medical Journal (June 4, 1898) warning about kola and caffeine additives in commercial foodstuffs. The ad claims health benefits across all life stages — childhood, youth, and old age — positioning cocoa not merely as a comfort, but as “a perfect food” when untainted. This was part of Cadbury’s broader campaign during the late 19th century to distinguish itself through ethical sourcing, hygiene, and transparency.

This advertisement is a compelling piece of early food regulation history, reflecting a time when public trust in household products was shaped as much by medical authority as by brand reputation. An exceptional piece for collectors of Cadbury memorabilia, Victorian print advertising, or the history of nutrition and consumer protection.

Categories: advertising, beverages, ephemera, victorian, print

Tags: cadbury, cocoa, 1890s, victorian, advert, purity, medical, food

Focus keyword: cadbury cocoa advert

Suggested Internal Link Keywords: victorian advertising, cadbury history, food purity campaign, british medical journal, cocoa ephemera