‘Deceptive’ health claims outed
Muesli bars, sugary vitamin water and Lewis Road’s $5 collagen milk are among food products claiming to be healthier than they actually are, Consumer NZ says.
The consumer watchdog’s annual Bad Taste Food awards yesterday highlighted brands that promote their products as better choices than they really are.
Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy said this year’s winners featured products promoted as ‘‘97 per cent fat free’’ or packed with ‘‘wholegrain’’ goodness.
‘‘However, when you check the back of the pack, you discover they are loaded with sugar or sodium,’’ Duffy said.
‘‘We also found sugary products that carried a raft of other claims, including ‘no artificial colours or flavours’ or touted their vitamin and mineral content.’’
The awards have been running since 2016.
Nestle Milo Protein Clusters: Nestle claimed its cereal contained whole grains, ‘‘fibre’’, ‘‘eight vitamins and minerals’’ and would ‘‘give your child sustained, low GI energy to keep them going for longer’’. But Consumer NZ’s research found the cereal also contained 26.5 per cent sugar.
Uncle Toby’s Plus Protein Peach, Sultanas & Oat Clusters: Uncle Toby’s said its cereal delivered ‘‘protein’’ and ‘‘fibre from whole grain to support healthy digestion’’. But it also contained 22 per cent sugar, which was the next largest ingredient after wheat and oats. There was also added sweetness from fruit puree, golden syrup and honey.
Nice & Natural Probiotic Oat Bars: The company claimed its cranberry and coconut bars were the ‘‘right way’’ to ‘‘activate your day’’. It said these bars were a ‘‘good source of fibre’’ with ‘‘no artificial colours or flavours’’. But each bar contained 22 per cent sugar, or two teaspoons.
OSM Almond with Vanilla Bites: OSM promoted its bars as ‘‘nutritionally balanced’’, a source of protein, fibre, 10 vitamins and six minerals. But the recommended serve had 30g of sugar, or seven teaspoons.
Glaceau Vitamin Water: The vitamin water that claimed ‘‘power’’, ‘‘iron’’ and low calories in its dragon fruit-flavoured Glaceau Vitamin Water also had 22g of sugar. One 500ml singleserve bottle had five teaspoons.
Edmonds 97 per cent Fat Free Vanilla Cake: More than half (55 per cent) of Edmonds ‘‘97 per cent fat free’’ cake mix with ‘‘no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives’’ was sugar. There was more sugar than flour in the cake mix, Consumer NZ said.
Woolworths Chocolate Flavoured Creamed Rice: This creamed rice also carried the ‘‘97 per cent fat free’’ claim and had a 3.5-star health rating. But while it was low fat, it had five teaspoons of sugar in every serve. Beehive Shaved Champagne
Ham: While Beehive’s ham claimed to be ‘‘97 per cent fat free’’, ‘‘gluten free’’, ‘‘soy free’’ and ‘‘MSG free’’, a look at the fine print showed it was also high in sodium: 1200mg per 100g.
Pams Fruit Zoo Vines: These ‘‘gluten, dairy and nut free’’ fruit vines claimed to be made from ‘‘65 per cent fruit juice’’, without artificial colours and flavours but were made of 55 per cent sugar. Along with reconstituted fruit juice, the vines contained sugar and glucose syrup, adding to their sweetness.
Lewis Road Creamery Collagen Milk: Lewis Road released its collagen-infused milk this year, claiming collagen was ‘‘scientifically shown to regenerate joint cartilage’’. But evidence for collagen supplementation was far from conclusive, Duffy said.
‘‘What is more, the company’s claims were not approved under the Food Standards Code. Lewis Road dropped the claims when we called it out.’’