Many of us have products in our kitchen that we use daily without realising what we’re really looking at.
The hidden meaning behind Marmite’s name? The clue’s literally there on the jar for us, while the Tate and Lyle symbol on that tin of golden syrup at the back of the cupboard features... a dead lion, which is a depiction of the story of Samson from the Old Testament.
Recently one person turned over their block of Lurpak and spotted a symbol on the back, realising they had no idea what it was actually supposed to be, despite the fact it actually has huge significance.
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“What does this sign on the butter represent?” they asked on Reddit.
One person commented to say they thought it looked like ‘shower heads’, while another admitted: “Here's me thinking it's a stethoscope.”
Missing the point slightly, someone else suggested: “It's marking out weights of butter in 20g per line.”
Yes, but what's below those 20g butter measurements?! It seems the answer is much simpler than you might think.
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One person came forward to explain: “Lurpak/Lurmark branding is based on the musical instrument, the Lur. The Lur is essentially a very long blowing horn that is traditionally curved to make them easier to carry, whilst also leaving them able to raise the instrument above the crowd (and avoid blasting into people's faces).”
Another added: “The trademark features two entwined 'lurs' - Bronze Age musical instruments that have become symbols of Denmark.”
A third also said: “I believe the Lurmark is a trademark for quality Danish butter. The Lurmark and Lurpak are owned by the Danish Dairy Board and the quality controls are still used today. The lur is a type of horn, a bronze age musical instrument, and you can see four of them intertwined in the mark there, and they also appear in the Lurpak logo.”
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Indeed, Lurpak says on its website that the Lurmark was made a registered trademark in 1901 to ‘protect from imitations’ and became an official quality stamp.
“From 1911, we have been conducting regular blind tastings and continuous sampling to ensure that only the best quality Danish dairies producing the best quality butter from Danish milk can use the Lurmark, a level of control that ensures even today that you only enjoy the best butter possible,” it says.
“With its famous entwined ‘lurs’ horns, - Bronze Age musical instruments - the mark continues to identify the premium unique Lurpak® butter that you love today. Good food deserves nothing less.”
Topics: Food and Drink
Jess Hardiman