Tajin toothpaste, protein pickles, and ramen hair curlers are all real products. Your reaction probably included “eww,” “what,” “why,” and “that’s actually kinda cool,” as did mine, so I set out to gather and explore the odd yet intriguing products released by brands this April Fools’ Day. While many products were questionable, others left viewers wanting in their daily lives.
Every year, brands participate in the day where pranks are not only tolerated but encouraged by announcing fake products on social media. In the past, we’ve seen ranch Olli Pops, a Duolingo cruise, and KFC toothpaste. What started a decade ago, before social media, has now grown into an advertising strategy, a competition for the best fake product, and a source of entertainment for viewers at home.
While some products brought entertainment, many made viewers disgusted as they thought about actually indulging in these products. One creation that had the internet questioning everyone’s favorite Swedish furniture store was IKEA’s collaboration with Chupa Chups. On Apr.1, IKEA posted to Instagram, announcing the world’s first meatball-flavored lollipop in honor of their famous Swedish meatballs. The post gained so much attention that IKEA later announced it would actually bring the product to stores worldwide. While many people found it repulsive, some said it was beginning to grow on them, leading to increasingly interesting comment sections and debates.
“A meatball is supposed to be savory, and then it turns into something sweet. That just doesn’t work,” junior Gabriella Panzera said. “I don’t want that in an ad, let alone my kitchen.”
While some products left viewers disgusted, others, like Domino’s pot noodle pizza, brought intrigue and confusion. It feels slightly unappealing, but the internet thought otherwise, evident in the product announcement’s comment section: “Wait, but I need this for real!!!!!” one user said.
Nonetheless, these were not the most popular fake products this year. That title belongs to the funny and surprisingly lovable category that had most people wishing the products were real. First on the list is possibly the best April Fool’s creation: the Dyson Airwrap for pets. While the idea itself may not be a laughing point, the photo released with the announcement is. The photo shows fantastically styled blowouts on dogs with long, luxurious hair that gave me and the internet a kick. The Dyson Airwrap’s influence on the beauty industry has me wishing my dog could experience those voluminous curls firsthand.
Another peculiar product was Subway’s running gels, which hit Instagram on April 1, and left me wishing for a churro-, a cookie-, or a fountain soda-flavored energy gel that I could actually buy. While reactions were mixed, many found it to be one of the more believable concepts.
“Honestly, I would never pick it out in a grocery store,” junior Elisabeth Hasselman said. “However, it is by far the best and most realistic one I’ve seen so far.”
Overall, this year brought us unusual and creative products that sparked debate and laughter. Brands truly brought their A game this year, setting a strong outlook for next year’s cycle of April Fool’s products.
