It is the second year in a row Samsung has received an award, after featuring last year for its sloppy recall of top-loader washing machines with a fault that has sparked house fires. Samsung received an award for the Galaxy Note7. A Samsung Electronics Australia spokesperson said around 81 per cent of the original Galaxy Note7 smartphones had been recalled, as well as more than 81 per cent of the top-loader washing machines recalled in April 2013. "These figures exceed the reported average Australian recall result of 56 per cent of product returns," she said. Reckett Benckiser received a Shonky for its Vanish Preen Power Powder Clean and Fresh Large Area Carpet Cleaner, which costs $14.70 and failed to outperform water in Choice tests, despite claiming to be "revolutionary," with five times more dirt removal and a "fast-drying action".

A spokesperson defended the product, stating that it was designed to remove ground in dirt from carpet, rather than sauce or wine, which the label indicates must be pre-treated. He said Choice's test used the product on stains, for which it was not designed. Illustration: Matt Golding Choice chief executive Alan Kirkland said this year's awards had "caught out some of the world's biggest brands with misleading advertising, dangerous products and sneaky tricks to rip off consumers." "The Shonkys are our 'don't buy' lists of all things we have seen in the last year ... the worst of the worst." Nestle's Milo received a Shonky for being 46% sugar and advertising health stars applicable to skim milk only. Credit:Esther Han

Nestle's Milo was among three food products handed a Shonky this year, noted for its 4½ star rating, which only applies when mixed with skim milk - a fact, Choice said, no consumer would ever guess. The consumer group found the "delicious chocolate dirt", made up of 46 per cent sugar, actually received 1½health stars when assessed on its own and was not a "core dairy product" as Nestle had claimed. The Victorian Camel Association claims its product can improve the health of people with "autism, diabetes, tuberculosis and cancer". Credit:Esther Han Choice's assessment was rejected by Nestle who said Milo's rating was "completely in line" with the Health Star system and the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Kellogg's Pringles were acknowledged for making consumers think they were getting more for their money with a price drop of 10 cents to $4, despite the tubes, the Pringle length and weight all decreasing by more than 8.9 per cent. Meanwhile, the saturated fat content increased by 60 per cent.

A Pringles spokesperson said it "hated" increasing prices, but as the cost of production was going up, a "small price increase with the new cans" was needed. The Victorian Camel Milk Association also received a nod and a referral to the food regulator, for spruiking camel milk for "fighting off bacteria and infections and aid those who have autism, diabetes, tuberculosis, cancer, stomach ulcers and more". In the financial sector, Amex took out a Shonky for pushing a "surcharge free" campaign, despite having one of the highest cost cards on the market. A spokesperson for Amex said the Surcharge Free campaign was fully transparent.



"We see nothing at all wrong in promoting that going surcharge free creates a better experience for consumers and ultimately businesses each decide whether to surcharge or not." Payday lender Cash Converters also received an award for its "handy cost-cutting tips" on the unbranded Common Cents website, all of which direct consumers to crippling pay day loan products on Cash Converters.

It was the second year in a row for Cash Converters, which last year received a gong for offering exorbitant interest rates on loans targeted at vulnerable people, such as pensioners and gambling addicts. In a statement, Cash Converters said the Common Cents site "in no way" encouraged customers to take our a personal loan with them. "It is disappointing [it] has been construed as anything other than a handy and helpful site, encouraging consumers to make the most of what they have already got." Choice called out Medical Weightloss Institute for its "dodgy" drug program, which set one consumer back $4400 and promises users they will not have to exercise or even eat less. A safety warning from Choice noted that one of the drugs included, diethylpropion, may cause headaches, nausea and seizures, and is being pushed for withdrawal from sale by the Therapeutic Goods Association.

In a statement, MWI said the program had an 80 per cent success rate among clients aiming to lose weight, adding that diethylpropion was "not a banned substance and had been approved by the TGA." Mr Kirkland said the drug program by MWI was the product about which he was most outraged at this year's Shonkys. "People are paying $4000 to $5000 for medicines that simply don't work and may even be dangerous." The least tangible of all products awarded a Shonky this year was Green and Clean's bottled air. The product, which literally bottles air from the Blue Mountains, Bondi, the Yarra Valley, New Zealand and Tasmania, is sold in 12 cans for $246.26. It was released earlier this year and has been targeted towards Chinese tourists seeking an antidote to air pollution at home.

Green and Clean co-director John Dickison said the Shonky award was unfair and "potentially very slanderous". "We have never made any scientific claims...the market has positioned this product. We are only putting the product up as it stands." Choice calculated that for an 18-year-old to use the bottled air for every remaining breath in their life, they would require 1,732,584 cans of Green and Clean, at a cost of more than $35 million. 2016 Shonky Award Winners Samsung for offloading dangerous products, namely the Galaxy Note7

for offloading dangerous products, namely the Galaxy Note7 Vanish for its "revolutionary product to clean and refresh your carpet," which fails to outperform water

for its "revolutionary product to clean and refresh your carpet," which fails to outperform water Amex for spruiking a surcharge-free campaign while having one of the highest-cost cards in the market

for spruiking a surcharge-free campaign while having one of the highest-cost cards in the market Nestle's Milo for being 46% sugar and advertising health stars applicable to skim milk-only

for being 46% sugar and advertising health stars applicable to skim milk-only Cash Converters for spruiking payday loans under the guise of handy cost-cutting tips

for spruiking payday loans under the guise of handy cost-cutting tips Medical Weightloss Institute for targeting vulnerable people with dodgy diet advice

for targeting vulnerable people with dodgy diet advice Green and Clean's bottled air for selling thin air in cans, for more than $240

for selling thin air in cans, for more than $240 Kellogg's Pringles for reducing the size of tubs and chips, while increasing fat content

for reducing the size of tubs and chips, while increasing fat content Victorian Camel Association for claiming its product can improve the health of people with "autism, diabetes, tuberculosis and cancer."