"Consumer Duck 2024" for Spice Mix by Kotanyi

The reason for the award is that the opaque can is only about one third full, which earned the grill vegetable spice mix from Kotanyi the negative prize of the Consumer Protection Association (VKI) - the "Consumer Duck 2024".

"Consumer Duck 2024": VKI Criticizes Kotanyi

According to VKI, consumers have perceived this deceptive packaging as outrageous. In the years 2016 and 202, Kotanyi spice cans were negatively rated in a food check due to their low fill quantity. Kotanyi argues in its statement with the fluctuating volume depending on the type of spice. Therefore, a certain leeway in the can format is necessary. "Two thirds of air in a spice container is simply too much. The current disproportion disappoints customers regarding the contained fill quantity. In addition, it leads to unnecessary waste of resources," said VKI nutrition scientist Nina Eichberger.

Juice and Pesto at "Consumer Duck 2024" in Second and Third Place

In second place was the Rauch Happy Day Coconut-Pineapple Juice. Instead of real coconut, which is only contained as 0.5 percent coconut water, consumers encounter added flavor. "Flavor" in the ingredient list can refer to flavors based on natural raw materials - plant, animal or microbiological origin - as well as a synthetically produced flavoring substance. Rauch informed VKI that it is a natural flavor, but does not want to provide information about the original raw materials. The Rio Mare Tuna Pesto with Pistachios and Lemon reached third place and causes annoyance with its composition. In addition to tuna (20 percent), pistachios (five percent) and lemon (two percent), it mainly contains green beans (around 37 percent) and olive oil. "It should be immediately apparent on the packaging what the main ingredients of the product are. This is not the case with the pesto from Rio Mare," says Eichberger. The manufacturer sees no problem with the name and design, as the green beans, according to him, play only a subordinate role.

"Consumer Duck 2024": More Than 7,000 Consumers Have Voted

Consumers who feel misled by the presentation, labeling or advertising of a product can report the product in question on the Food Check platform of the consumer protection magazine. From all published checks of the period September 2023 to September 2024, five products were selected and put up for election as part of the "Consumer Duck 2024". The survey recorded a total of 7,879 participants aged between 20 and 70 years.

(APA/Red)

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