Little things: The reasons why we love miniatures

Little things: The reasons why we love miniatures

FOOD giant Heinz has been slapped with a massive $2.25 million fine for claiming one of its snacks was beneficial for young children.

The ‘Shredz’ products were pulled from the shelves in 2016, but prior to that more than one million were sold across Australia.

The Shredz products were dehydrated snacks made with 99 per cent fruit and vegetables. While they did not contain any preservatives, artificial colours or flavours, they were approximately two-thirds sugar.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) initially wanted Heinz to be fined $10 million and counsel argued the packaging on Little Kids Shredz was “egregious”, given the potential health implications for young children.

“The Heinz Group is one of the largest food companies in the world,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a press release.

“We will continue to advocate for stronger penalties to deter large companies from engaging in serious contraventions of Australia’s consumer laws, particularly now that Parliament has passed legislation substantially increasing the maximum penalties for breaches of the ACL (Australian Consumer Law).”

Court proceedings started back in 2016, and at the time Mr Sims said “Heinz is marketing these products as healthy options for young children when they are not”.

In March, Justice Richard White said the statements on the packaging and pictures of fruit and vegetables gave the impression of a nutritious snack.

“I am satisfied that each of the Heinz nutritionists ought to have known that a representation that a product containing approximately two-thirds sugar was beneficial to the health of children aged one to three years was misleading,” he said.

Michael O’Brien, acting for Heinz, claimed the company did not intend to mislead consumers.

The company disputed the suggested fine of $10 million, suggesting a fine of just $400,000 would be more appropriate.

Heinz has also been ordered to establish a consumer law compliance program and pay the ACCC’s costs in addition to the fine.

— With Wires