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Milo And Camel Milk Are The Shonkiest Things You Can Buy

So maybe avoid mixing the two.
Nestle have been caught out, just a little.
Adam Gault
Nestle have been caught out, just a little.

Milo and a camel milk company have been named among the shonkiest products on the market in 2016, alongside a handful of other products shamed on Wednesday as Choice held its annual Shonky Awards.

Samsung also topped the awards for "offloading dangerous products" including the Galaxy Note7, which was recalled weeks after its release as some phones began exploding.

"The Shonkys are the awards that we'd prefer not to give out," Choice Chief Executive Alan Kirkland said on Wednesday following the awards.

"But yet again, we've caught out some of the world's biggest brands with misleading advertising, dangerous products and sneaky tricks to rip off consumers."

So here are the best of the worst, with all their misleading glory.

Milo

Nestle was awarded for "health washing Milo" as the company claims Milo earns a four-and-a-half Health Star Rating. The rating system has been implemented by the Federal Government to help guide Aussies in making healthier choices in the supermarket.

However, if you read the small print, the generous star rating on Milo is calculated ONLY if you mix the Milo with skim milk.

On its own, Milo receives a one-and-a-half star rating because it's 46 percent sugar. Which only makes sense, because its so damn delicious.

Milo is 46 percent sugar.
Fairfax: Esther Han
Milo is 46 percent sugar.

Green and Clean's bottled air

Choice awarded this product among the shonkiest for "literally selling thin air". The product boasts bottled air from Bondi to the Blue Mountains with "upward of 255 breaths" per bottle. Choice claims the 'health product' targets cashed-up tourists hoping to maintain good health while returning to their highly polluted cities.

And with 12 bottles setting you back $246.26, we see what they're getting at.

Camel Milk Victoria

Choice has shamed the camel milk company for "milking the health benefits of this alternative dairy product".

Camel Milk Victoria claims their milk product is "known to help improve the immune system by fighting off bacteria and infections and aid those who have autism, diabetes, tuberculosis, cancer, stomach ulcers and more."

Choice checked these claims with the food regulator and they don't stand up, so the company has been referred to the ACCC.

And to top it all off, it's a casual $21 a litre.

Camel Milk is more than $20 per litre.
Fairfax: Esther Han
Camel Milk is more than $20 per litre.

The other six companies awarded with 'Shonkys' include:

  • Kellogg's Pringles for dropping the the chip and tub size but dropping the product cost by only 10 cents.
  • Medical Weightloss Institute for charging people $4400 for a weightloss program relying solely on drugs (one which has been pulled off the market) and promising reduced diet and increased exercise are not needed.
  • Cash Converters for promoting its payday loans on its handy cost-cutting tips website.
  • Amex for promoting 'surcharge free' products while still maintaining "one of the highest cost cards in the market" according to Choice.
  • Vanish for charging $14.70 per bottle of Vanish Preen Powerpowder Clean and Fresh Large Area Carpet Cleaner which water outperformed in cleaning carpet. Choice tested it.
  • Samsung for the Galaxy Note7 recall following a recall of 144,000 dodgy top loader washing machines in 2015.

And Choice have re-advertised accordingly. Enjoy.

Vanish has responded to the awards and a spokesman told HuffPost Australia all product claims are backed by testing.

"Vanish Preen Powerpowder is designed to remove ground in dirt from carpet surfaces. As indicated on the product label, it is recommended that other types of bleachable or oil based stains -- for example red wine, coffee, or sauce -- be pre treated with an appropriate product for those stains," Vanish said in a statement.

"In conducting their performance test, Choice used Vanish Preen Powerpowder on stains other than ground in dirt (what the product is designed for)."

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