Capri-Sun drink wins false advertising award
A German food industry watchdog singled out drinks-maker Capri-Sun for its annual advertising "award" on Thursday, for what the group described as "shameless" marketing of sugary drinks to children.
"Although sugary drinks are proven to cause weight gain and result in illnesses like adult-onset diabetes, producer Wild/SiSi-Werke hooks children on all channels to turn them on to as much Capri-Sun as possible," Foodwatch said, in a statement on the organisation's website.
It said a 200-millilitre pouch of the fruit juice, known as Capri-Sonne in German, contains six-and-a-half cubes of sugar - more than even Fanta Orange.
The sugary drink won more than 42 percent of the some 120,000 ballots cast in an online poll for the Goldene Windbeutel, or "Golden Windbag," award, which seeks to spotlight misleading advertising. This year's contest was dedicated to food products marketed to children.
Foodwatch accused the company of reaching out to children not just through traditional media like TV and the internet, but also by organising and sponsoring adventure camps and sporting events at schools - and even providing child care at vacation resorts.
"In this way, Capri-Sun is purposefully undermining efforts by parents and teachers to encourage healthier eating in kids," Foodwatch said.
The company behind Capri-Sun criticized its nomination for the bogey prize, saying the drink's 10-percent sugar content put it in the middle of the pack among fruit juice products. The drinks-maker also took issue with Foodwatch's claims that its marketing was aimed at children, saying its ads are mostly meant for parents.
Second place in the "Golden Windbag" contest went to the "Paula" pudding produced by Dr. Oetker, which snagged nearly 22 percent of the vote. Foodwatch said the company's ad campaign ranged from phone ring-tones to online karaoke designed to help children learn the "Paula" rap song from the commercial.
DPA/The Local/arp
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"Although sugary drinks are proven to cause weight gain and result in illnesses like adult-onset diabetes, producer Wild/SiSi-Werke hooks children on all channels to turn them on to as much Capri-Sun as possible," Foodwatch said, in a statement on the organisation's website.
It said a 200-millilitre pouch of the fruit juice, known as Capri-Sonne in German, contains six-and-a-half cubes of sugar - more than even Fanta Orange.
The sugary drink won more than 42 percent of the some 120,000 ballots cast in an online poll for the Goldene Windbeutel, or "Golden Windbag," award, which seeks to spotlight misleading advertising. This year's contest was dedicated to food products marketed to children.
Foodwatch accused the company of reaching out to children not just through traditional media like TV and the internet, but also by organising and sponsoring adventure camps and sporting events at schools - and even providing child care at vacation resorts.
"In this way, Capri-Sun is purposefully undermining efforts by parents and teachers to encourage healthier eating in kids," Foodwatch said.
The company behind Capri-Sun criticized its nomination for the bogey prize, saying the drink's 10-percent sugar content put it in the middle of the pack among fruit juice products. The drinks-maker also took issue with Foodwatch's claims that its marketing was aimed at children, saying its ads are mostly meant for parents.
Second place in the "Golden Windbag" contest went to the "Paula" pudding produced by Dr. Oetker, which snagged nearly 22 percent of the vote. Foodwatch said the company's ad campaign ranged from phone ring-tones to online karaoke designed to help children learn the "Paula" rap song from the commercial.
DPA/The Local/arp
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