Banned, Costa ad that says bacon beats avocado

AN advert for Costa Coffee has been banned for suggesting one of its bacon rolls or egg muffins was a better breakfast option than an avocado.

The radio skit made fun of the fruit that’s become so fashionable among millennials, pointing out how difficult it is to get a perfectly ripe avocado.

But the Advertising Standards Authority found it fell foul of a rule which states companies should not discourage people from eating fruit or vegetables.

On the commercial, which ran in June, a jokey voice says: ‘Oh, there’s a great deal on ripen at home avocados. Sure, they’ll be hard as rock for the first 18 days, three hours and 20 minutes, then they’ll be ready to eat for about ten minutes, then they’ll go off.

‘For a better deal head to Costa Coffee and grab a delicious, piping hot bacon roll or egg muffin for just £2 when you buy any medio or massimo hot drink or flat white before 11am.’

The coffee shop chain argued the advert was meant to be humorous.

But warning Costa not to repeat the promotion, the watchdog said: ‘The ad placed emphasis on negative aspects of buying avocados … That contrasted with the positive language used to describe Costa’s own breakfast items.’