Ersatz is a German word I have resurrected from WWII days. I really should not use it to stigmatize my late and lamented hot morning cup of reviving liquid that I prefer to coffee since it is naturally decaffeinated and has the taste Mr. Post built into it in 1895 from a mixture of cereals - and it was instant, too. The Kraft Company BOUGHT the rights from Post and recently none of the familiar bottles have been found on the shelves. The Kraft people have disregarded the millions of Mormons and others who for religious reasons avoid caffeine. And, then there are the others like me who was brought up liking the taste while eschewing the jolt coffee drinkers look forward to.
Mr. Post is probably uncomfortable in his grave because of the huge numbers that cannot find his bottles on grocery store shelves. The Internet is buzzing with complaints and, there have been offers to buy the formula and rights to manufacture Postum anew. I think I'd like to buy into that.
Ersatz means fake or not the real thing. So many thigs we buy into today are not what they seem - especially those breakfast cereals -Are some still shot from guns? Do the new favorites really have real pieces of fruit in them?
Do cars really deliver the mileage proclaimed in advertisements and on the stickers?
Are faces really wrinkle free while butts and bosoms are the real thing? Are all those advertisements that proclaim bigger is better telling the truth?