Plant-based "cream" voted Swedish Food Bluff of the Year
The product “won” the anti-prize after a landslide vote. Manufacturer Alpro says they will change how the product is marketed.
With nearly half of the 20,000 votes Alpro Cuisine Soya Whippable was awarded the Swedish anti-prize Food Bluff of the Year 2019 (“Årets matbluff” in Swedish).
“Apparently a lot of people feel deceived by the content of this product”, says Björn Bernhardson, Deputy Chairman and Executive Member at the Swedish consumers’ organisation Äkta vara, who have started the anti-prize.
Despite having “soya” in its name, soybeans make up only two percent of its content. That is only a fourth of the soy content, eight percent, in the company’s own soy drinks.
Instead a full 25 percent of the product is made up of palm oil, with no mention of it on the front of the package.
“Palm oil is being criticized, primarily for environmental reasons, and many consumers avoid products containing it. I think the negative image surrounding palm oil made people feel more cheated”, says Björn Bernhardson.
In an interview with trade magazine Fri köpenskap a representative from Alpro in Sweden says they use certified palm oil, but also that they will listen to the criticism:
“However, this nomination shows that we should rethink our communication regarding this product. We promise to take this in and to act.”
More information on the anti-prize can be found in the attached full press release.
Contact information
e-mail bjorn@aktavara.org
www.aktavara.org
Björn Bernhardson phone: +46 708 859 799
Äkta vara is a Swedish consumer onrganization working for better food quality and better consumer information. It is a member organization of the Swedish Consumers’ Association.
