International Bad Products Awards
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 2.07
The martini shaker and garlic express didn't win; the jury had bigger fish to fry. Consumers International, "the only independent global campaigning voice for consumers, building a powerful international consumer movement to help protect and empower consumers everywhere." has chosen the winners of the International Bad Products Awards, given " to highlight failings of corporate responsibility and the abuse of consumer trust by internationally recognized brands."
Winners (if you can call them that) for this year are:
Coca-Cola – for continuing the international marketing of its bottled water, Dasani, despite admitting it comes from the same sources as local tap water.
Kellogg’s – for the worldwide use of cartoon-type characters and product tie-ins aimed at children, despite high levels of sugar and salt in their food products.
Mattel – for stonewalling US congressional investigations and avoiding overall responsibility for the global recall of 21 million products.
With the overall prize going to:
Takeda Pharmaceuticals – for taking advantage of poor US regulation and advertising sleeping pills to children, despite health warnings about pediatric use. ::International Bad Products Awards via ::PSFK
Buyer beware. I think the Dasani is a little unfair, it is filtered and packaged. That's what you are buying. Again, buyer beware. Kids don't buy meds or cereal. It's the parents. Banning unhealthy and decptive products doesn't makes stupid people smarter.