Consumer group, Choice, has named and shamed a number of brands, including Dairy Farmers and Ecoeggs, as part of its annual Shonky Awards.
Announced today, the Shonky Awards "shine a spotlight on products and services that are sneaky, slippery, unscrupulous and sometimes unsafe. The risk of receiving an infamous Shonky encourages businesses to lift their game and put consumers first," said Choice chief executive, Alan Kirkland.
This year, a record 439 nominations were received from across the country.
Dairy Farmers' Oats Express Liquid Breakfast – Banana and Honey was one of the award recipients.
"This product, with pictures of whole oats, banana slices and a honey dipper on the pack, claims to be a smooth 'blend of milk, oat fibre and real banana.' The ingredients panel tells a different story – actually banana extract and it appears to be missing the honey," Choice said.
Certified free range egg company, Ecoeggs, was another Shonky winner, earning the award for its stocking density of 20,000 birds per hectare, more than 13 times higher than the national model code definition of 1,500 birds per hectare.
"[With] a premium price tag and only 10 eggs in a pack, we think Ecoeggs offer very poor value under the cover of green-washing. Choice was also left wondering – what, exactly, is 'eco' about this product?"
Choice recently submitted its second-ever ‘super-complaint’ to NSW Fair Trading, requesting that the government body investigate whether 'free range' egg claims are misleading consumers.
In the super-complaint Choice demonstrated that on average, free range eggs can cost up to twice as much as caged eggs and close to a fifth more than barn eggs. Despite the significant increase in price, Choice says that consumers cannot be confident that they are purchasing a truly free range product as there is no consistency in industry standards.
Other brands named and shamed in this year's Shonky awards are:
- Nuk Starlight Silicone Orthodontic Soother (0-6 months)
- Credit Repair Australia
- Kleenex Mansize Tissues
- Energy Australia
- EA
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Toolbar
For more information on these awards, click here.