Criticism Too much sugar in Hipp kids instant teas

Foodwatch: Too much sugar in Hipp instant tea, which is also advertised for toddlers

09/05/2012

Is the largest manufacturer of baby food misleading consumers? In any case, this is the group Hipp from the consumer protection organization „Food Watch“ accused. Consumer advocates accuse the producer of baby foods of misleading parents when marketing instant tea for children. The tea is offered as a thirst quencher, but contains sugar granules and should therefore be classified in the opinion of consumer advocates as a sweet and not as a regular thirst quencher.

Instant tea should be advertised as a candy rather than a thirst quencher
„The best of nature. The best for nature. Hipp, that's what I stand for by my name.“ This well-known advertising slogan is intended to give parents confidence in the children's food of the company. But now the group sees massive criticism from the consumer protection organization „Food Watch“ exposed. The initiative raises „Hipp“ to mislead consumers into marketing instant tea for toddlers. So is a child drink as „thirst quencher“ advertised, although sugar granules are included. In the opinion of the consumer advocates, however, the children's product would have to be classified as candy. Hipp advertises the tea on an instant basis with contained sugars as „refreshing and aromatic thirst quencher“, who can be drunk from the 12th Month of life.
However, the AID information service, funded by the Federal Nutrition Ministry, classifies instant teas as confectionery. Such teas should therefore not just as „thirst quencher“ but only in exceptional cases and in small quantities, warns therefore Foodwatch.

Up to 96 percent sugar
The assortment of the manufacturer is big. Different flavors are offered. For example, the teas are included „Apple and lemon balm“, „Forest fruits“ or „fruit“ to buy. Depending on the variety, the granules consist of between 94 and 96 percent of different types of sugar, as a Foodwatch spokeswoman reports. However, this circumstance could not be recognized by parents on the nutritional information of the packaging. If handled properly and according to the manufacturer's instructions, the drink would then contain about 7.6 grams of sugar per 200 milliliters of tea. Much too much for a healthy diet of a toddler, when it is drunk regularly to quench your thirst, also food experts. Until some time ago, the Hipp teas were even advertised for children from the eighth month, the consumer advocates report. So the company advertises the apple balm tea with the slogan „Fruity and refreshing drink for babies, toddlers and schoolchildren“ and it is already „sweetened“.

Hipp resists criticism
The food manufacturer Hipp can not apply the criticism. The named products would be exclusive compared to other children's teas on the market „Use natural herbal and fruit extracts“, as the company said in a statement on Wednesday. In addition, the teas would be no additional „artificial flavors“ or teeth damaging acids such as citric acid. A company spokesperson emphasized that Hipp would comply with the legal requirements of Kindertees. Compared to other beverages that are also advertised as a thirst quencher for small children, such as spritzte fruit juices, wise Hipp tea tea only a small sugar content.

representative of „Food Watch“ see it completely different. The company would put the teas, which are also suitable for infants from the first birthday, on a par with mineral water. "In fact, instant teas are sugar granules that are mixed with tea extract, and each cup (200 milliliters) contains about two and a half cubes of sugar per liter." As a thirst quencher for children, experts recommend only unsweetened teas and water. " so Foodwatch. As an exception, very diluted juices could be used for children, warn the consumer advocates. The advertising strategies of the food group for child nutrition are „contrary to all common recommendations for child nutrition“ criticizes Markwardt. These would not be to the „Finally, many parents would place a high degree of trust in the company and rely on the statements of the company's CEO Jürgen Hipp.

Protest against Hipp Instant Tea
With the help of a mail action parents are to protest against the practice of the company. On the website „Abgespeist.de“ Consumers can ask Hipp to take the instant tea in the current composition off the market. Finally, be „Tees with sugar for infants as superfluous as a fifth wheel on the car“. According to Anne Markwardt of Foodwatch, there is a simple alternative: „Take a teabag and pour it with boiling water.“ (Sb)