Global consumer movement announces winners of International Bad Product Awards

Consumers International;Press Release.


Coco-cola, Kellogg’s, Mattel and Takeda Pharmaceuticals top list of international brands guilty of abusing consumer rights.

The world federation of consumer organisations, Consumers International (CI) today announced the winners of the International Bad Product Awards, to be presented at CI’s World Congress in Sydney, Australia, 29 Oct – 1 November 2007.

The awards aim to highlight failings of corporate responsibility and the abuse of consumer trust by internationally recognised brands. The announcement comes as 400 delegates from national consumer organisations and governments, convene in Sydney to attend CI’s World Congress.

This year’s winners* are:

Coca-Cola – for continuing the international marketing of its bottled water, Dasani, despite admitting it comes from the same sources as local tap water.

Kellogg’s – for the worldwide use of cartoon-type characters and product tie-ins aimed at children, despite high levels of sugar and salt in their food products.

Mattel – for stonewalling US congressional investigations and avoiding overall responsibility for the global recall of 21 million products

With the overall prize going to:

Takeda Pharmaceuticals – for taking advantage of poor US regulation and advertising sleeping pills to children, despite health warnings about paediatric use

Richard Lloyd, Director General of Consumers International, said:
“These multi-billion dollar companies are global brands with a responsibility to be honest, accountable and responsible. In highlighting their short-comings Consumers International and its 220 member organisations are holding corporations to account and demanding businesses take social responsibility seriously ”

*Full details of each nomination can be found in the accompanying CI Press briefing, which can also be downloaded here

Note to Editors

Consumers International (CI) is the only independent global campaigning voice for consumers. With over 220 member organisations in 115 countries, we are building a powerful international consumer movement to help protect and empower consumers everywhere. For more information, visit www.consumersinternational.org

2. The International Bad Product nominations were submitted by CI member organisations and CI expert staff. The final four, including the overall winner, were chosen by the CI Secretariat and are detailed below. Criteria for final selection included the size of the company, the global scale of sales and marketing, the direct impact on consumers, and the potential actionable change by the corporation.

For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact Luke Upchurch +44 796 894 9327 lupchurch@consint.org


Efforts by Tanzania Consumer Advocacy Society is just a copy of what CI is doing

Tanzania Consumer Advocacy Society (TCAS) would like to introduce Annual award to the best and bad manufacturer, supplier, and importer, operator of the year in accordance to the standard, feedback and opinions of Tanzania consumers, the award will give feedback to businesses on their business conducts from Tanzania.

This Annual Award aims on looking for companies to take a triple bottom line approach to their performance, sensitive to standards, quality, environment, as well as economic impact of their operations.

This Award will keenly watch how businesses are applying responsive business practice that can create value chain for the betterment of consumers and that would help a firm to become more cost efficient, accountable and responsive to consumers’ needs and interests.

For more information please contact Bernard Kihiyo +255 732 991 409 consumeradvocacytz@yahoo.co.uk