Foodwatch awards the Golden Profiter

The three most popular advertising lies with the „Golden puff“ named

05/22/2012

Thirty advertising lies are common in the food industry. Although manufacturers are often on the margins of the legal, but laws are usually not exceeded here and so they are legally difficult to handle. To raise consumer awareness of the inappropriate advertising pledges and increase the pressure on manufacturers to achieve true product labeling, the consumer protection organization Foodwatch is now awarding the fourth „Golden puff“. All consumers can vote under „www.abgespeist.de“.

Especially brash advertising promises are chosen
The negative award goes to food products that stand out by particularly brash advertising promises. After an appropriate selection process, Foodwatch now offers consumers five products to choose from „Golden puff“ earned. On the website „www.abgespeist.de“ Everyone can decide by mid-June which product should receive the award from the consumer protection organization. You can choose from margarine „Becel pro-activ“ from Unilever, the bag tea „Landlust Mirabelle & Pear“ from teapot, that „Viva Vital minced meat“ from Netto, the supposedly non-alcoholic beer „Clausthaler Classic“ by Radeberger and the infant Infant Instant Infants from the 12th month of HiPP. The allegations made by the consumer advocates to the individual products are extremely different, but for all candidates the statement on the packaging clearly contradicts the actual characteristics of the article.

Margarine as a drug?
So Unilever applies his margarine „ Becel pro-activ“ with the note that these with help „highly effective plant sterols“ has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, which should give consumers the impression that the margarine is good for the heart or the cardiovascular system. In fact, according to Foodwatch, however, remains open, „whether the pharmaceutical margarine benefits the heart or even harms it.“ In addition, the long-term consequences are hardly explored, which does not prevent Unilever from selling the products through the supermarkets. For Foodwatch is „Becel pro-activ“ equate with one „Pill for on-bread greasing“, Side effects risk included.

Industrial fruit tea and artificial flavors, instead of lust for the land with fruits
The bag tea „Landlust Mirabelle & Pear“ by Teapot was approved by the Consumer Protection Organization for the „Golden puff“ nominated, as the imprinted: „Enjoy a little trip into the countryside and discover the original enjoyment of familiar fruits, which can still ripen in peace.“ The product image conveyed here by no means corresponds to the actual content, so the accusation of consumer advocates. Because contain only the standard ingredients of industrial fruit tea „plus aroma for imitation taste“, so food watch. Mirabelle and pear are only represented with pictures on the packaging, the taste is simulated by unspecified flavorings. Main ingredients are - as with most industrial fruit teas - apple, hibiscus and rosehip. The price of four euros per 100 grams is therefore clearly overpriced. That „the eponymous Mirabelle contains as much as zero percent“ is for Foodwatch occasion for particularly sharp criticism.

Water-minced minced meat sold as low in fat
The „Viva Vital minced meat“ von Netto was nominated because of it „30% less fat compared to mixed minced meat“ promises, but not - as suggested - on the „Preparation of minced meat mixed with vegetable protein“ is due. In fact, the alleged fat reduction by stretching „with a mush of water, wheat protein and flour“ achieved, that is, by reducing the meat content by about 30 percent, so the charge of Foodwatch. The fat content of the meat, however, is even higher than for fresh minced meat from the meat counter, since in the latter „higher quality, lean meat used“ Net, however, the cheaper high-fat sections processed criticize the consumer advocates. The fact that customers should pay a surcharge of around 30 percent for this is another justifiable reason for the nomination of „Viva Vital minced meat“ to the „Golden puff“.

Alcohol-free beer despite contained alcohol?
In the supposedly alcohol-free beer „Clausthaler Classic“ von Radeberger, the actual alcohol content of 0.45% by volume is the main criticism of consumer advocates. According to Foodwatch refuse „Germany's brewer has always been“, Write the actual alcohol content of supposedly non-alcoholic beers on the label. According to the breweries would be „non-alcoholic“ actually everything below 0.5 volume percent, so the charge of consumer advocates. Since Radeberger the „Clausthaler Classic“to other countries already as „low-alcohol“ Beer marks, would be a truthful labeling in this country no problem, Foodwatch justified the current nomination.

Sugary child tea not suitable as a thirst quencher
The high sugar content of instant teas „fruit“, „Forest fruits“ and „Apple melissa“ von Hipp had already in early May for a dispute between the consumer protection organization and the manufacturer provided. Foodwatch criticized that the instant teas from Hipp as „thirst quencher“ are also advertised for infants from the age of 12 months, the high sugar content makes them unsuitable as such. While water and highly diluted fruit juice spritzer „In child nutrition - as well as unsweetened teas - can actually be good thirst quenchers, the Hipp products are anything but healthy and recommended“, so the charge of consumer advocates. According to Foodwatch, the instant teas contain two-and-a-half pieces of sugar per 200 milliliters (7.6 grams). The manufacturer Hipp had defended against the allegations of consumer advocates and declared that the instant tea complies with the legal requirements for children's tea. Also, the tea would be exclusive „natural herbal and fruit extracts used“, additional „artificial flavors“ or tooth-damaging acids, such as citric acid, are not included. To speak here of an ideal thirst quencher for toddlers, is nevertheless inappropriate and deserves the nomination for „Golden puff“. (Fp)

Also read:
Criticism: Too much sugar in Hipp kids instant teas
Foodwatch warns of cholesterol-lowering margarine

Image: Miroslav