Save the Baby does not actually save babies
Save the Baby is a cough and cold medicine first created back in 1874. Products continue to be sold under that brand name today.
But at a certain point in time (I'm not sure exactly when) the owners of the brand felt compelled to put the following disclaimer on the packaging:
An odd disclaimer because the name would definitely seem to imply that the product saves babies.
Perhaps the disclaimer was a response to a 1929 suit against it by the FDA ("United States v. Certain Bottles of Lee's 'Save the Baby'") arguing that it was "misbranded."
Whatever the case may be, the disclaimer evidently allowed the name "Save the Baby" to continue to be used. And when the brand was sold to a new owner in 1983, the uniqueness of the name was a "major factor" in the deal. As the article below notes:
But at a certain point in time (I'm not sure exactly when) the owners of the brand felt compelled to put the following disclaimer on the packaging:
The name 'Save-the-Baby' is not intended to imply that the product will 'save babies'
An odd disclaimer because the name would definitely seem to imply that the product saves babies.
image source: lawhaha.com
Perhaps the disclaimer was a response to a 1929 suit against it by the FDA ("United States v. Certain Bottles of Lee's 'Save the Baby'") arguing that it was "misbranded."
Whatever the case may be, the disclaimer evidently allowed the name "Save the Baby" to continue to be used. And when the brand was sold to a new owner in 1983, the uniqueness of the name was a "major factor" in the deal. As the article below notes:
The opportunity to buy the Save the Baby name with the product was a major factor in the deal because the Food and Drug Administration now bans such extravagant and possibly misleading brand names.
Newsday - Nov 17, 1983
Comments
"Save the Baby! Save the Baby! If you have a cold just use it right away! Save the Baby! Save the Baby! And be sure to use it hot both night and day!"
Posted by Dr. Fian on 08/21/24 at 01:11 PM
I remember seeing a package that said "Save the Baby for Croup and Colds." As a kid with a weird sense of humor, I was much amused by the idea that one would save a baby for the purpose of infecting it.
Posted by ges on 08/22/24 at 10:53 AM
Category: Medicine | Odd Names