Hipp: "cream puff" for the most audacious advertising lie of 2012

In the self-initiated online vote, more than 44,000 consumers (34.1 percent) voted for Hipp's granulated sugar teas "Fruits", "Forest Fruits" and "Apple Balm", as Foodwatch announced on Tuesday. A total of 129,229 people cast their vote on the Abgespeist.de website.

The children's tea contains the equivalent of two and a half sugar cubes per 2 deciliters, according to the report. However, experts recommend only giving children unsweetened teas. It would be irresponsible to recommend such a drink.

Hipp had already announced in May that it would be withdrawing its sugar-containing granulated teas from the market by the end of the year and would in future be offering children's teas with the tooth-friendly sugar substitute isomaltulose. These teas are already available for children under the age of one.

The company reacted with incomprehension to being awarded the "Golden Windbag" for the most audacious advertising lie. The sugar content of the products is stated on the packaging "transparently and clearly recognizable for the consumer", it said in a statement. In addition, the teas comply with the strict regulations of the Dietary Guidelines, which all products for children under the age of three must adhere to. Hipp accused Foodwatch of unsettling consumers.

The "Golden Windbag" was awarded for the fourth time. Five products were nominated and could be voted for from May 22 to June 18. Viva Vital minced meat preparation from Netto (27.5 percent) came second in the list of label frauds. In third place was Becel pro activ from Unilever (22.2 percent) ahead of Clausthaler from Radeberger (10.1 percent). (SDA/DAPD).