When deciding whether something is as healthy as the packet claims, it always pays to read the fine print.

Consumer NZ has released its list of '"winners" in the Bad Taste Food Awards, which aims to call out companies claiming that their products are healthier than they are.

The products might not go as far as 7-Up did in 1955, when it claimed in an ad that the drink was so wholesome that mothers could mix it with their babies' milk.



But the list does show that some products' claims seem at odds with their ingredients.



Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said that despite consumer laws, food marketers continue to push the boundaries.

Consumer NZ says a 750ml bottle of Powerade ION4 Mountain Blast contains 11 teaspoons of sugar.

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This year, cereals and drinks featured frequently on the list, which is based on a nomination system.

Chetwin said Kellogg's Nutri-Grain was a standout among this year's winners, receiving 63 nominations.



"What riled people was its promotion as 'iron man food', 'a source of protein and fibre' and 'fuel and energy for active teens'. What it actually is, is more than a quarter sugar," Chetwin said.



Nestle's Milo also featured on the list.

In one respondent’s view “the only healthy thing about [Milo] is the milk you mix it with. Yes, it is delicious. No, it is not healthy.”

"The product's packaging boasts a four-and-a-half star health rating. But Nestle calculated the rating based on mixing the powder with trim milk. If you rate the powder itself, Milo gets a miserable one-and-a-half stars."

A spokeswoman for Nestle said they rejected Consumer NZ's assessment, claiming it to be an incorrect use of the Health Star Rating scheme.

"The way that Milos Health Star Rating is calculated is completely in line with both the HSR system and the NZ Food and Nutrition Guidelines," they said.



"Milo's always been designed to be drunk with milk - Milo with trim milk has 70 per cent more calcium than milk alone, as well as adding vitamins not found in milk such as iron, B group vitamins and vitamin D.



Here is the list of other products in the Consumer NZ Bad Taste Food Awards, 2016, and what Consumer NZ had to say:

Shredz are nearly 70 per cent sugar, a whole apple has approximately 10 per cent sugar, Consumer NZ says.

Heinz Little Kids Fruit and Veg Shredz

"Boxes of these Kiwi-made snacks, aimed at toddlers, are emblazoned with images of fresh produce and the words "99 per cent fruit and veg". But they're also nearly 70 per cent sugar. In comparison, an apple has about 10 per cent sugar."



Pams Strawberry and Blackcurrant Flavoured Superfruit Muesli Bars

"Despite the images of succulent fruits on the box, the fruit content of these bars is limited to four per cent strawberry pieces (containing one per cent strawberry puree) and 1 per cent blackcurrant juice. Superfruity? Not so much."



Gatorade and Powerade

Consumer NZ says A 1-litre bottle of Gatorade Orange Ice contains 15 teaspoons of sugar.

"They're touted as the go-to drinks for sports people serious about their performance, but the drinks contain a sizeable sugar hit. There are 15 teaspoons of sugar in a litre bottle of Gatorade Orange Ice and 11 teaspoons in a 750ml bottle of Powerade ION4 Mountain Blast."



Homebrand Fruity Rings

"With 30 per cent more sugar than they had in 2008, the cereal packed the biggest sugar spike in Consumer's 2016 survey of children's cereals. Kellogg's Coco Pops Chex and Crispix Honey also deserve dishonourable mentions. Both have 20 per cent more sugar than they did previously."

In response to being on the list, Countdown spokesman James Walker said the company had in October introduced new health and nutrition targets as part of the Government's Childhood Obesity Plan.



"Within these targets we are aiming to complete a nutritional review of more than 1000 private label products by December 2018, and where necessary, reformulate these products, targeting sugar, saturated fat and sodium reductions across these products.



"We have set ourselves an ambitious goal to review a significant number of our own brand products starting with the cereal category, which includes the Homebrand Fruity Loops."

Blue Diamond Almonds boasts its Almond Breeze product is 98 per cent fat-free. But it’s also 98 per cent almond-free, says Consumer NZ.

Almond milk

"Promoted with claims for numerous benefits, some almond milk brands don't actually contain that many almonds. Blue Diamond Almonds boasts its Almond Breeze product is 98 per cent fat-free. But it's also 98 per cent almond-free."

Consumer NZ aso said on its website that, "Sanitarium says So Good Almond Milk Original is "made from the goodness of almonds". But, in reality, nuts make up only 2.5 per cent of its content. Almonds are third on the ingredients list, behind filtered water and cane sugar (3 per cent)."



Wattie's 99% Fat-Free Creamed Rice

"It's the low-fat version of Wattie's Original Creamed Rice, but while there's less fat in the lite version, there's also an extra teaspoon of sugar (plus some) in every 210g serve."



OVI Hydration

"It's a fruit drink marketed as containing 'antioxidants from green tea'. But the tea extract (made up of green and oolong tea) is only 0.05 per cent of the drink. OVI also contains fruit juice, fructose and honey, which contribute 20g of sugar in each bottle."