Peanut butter bickies and toddler milk win Shonky Awards

Two well-known food products have received the dubious distinction of being named in Choice’s Shonky Awards.

Arnott’s Tim Tam peanut butter flavour biscuits and S-26 Gold Toddler and Junior milk drinks were named by the consumer watchdog in its annual awards, which “recognise companies, products and services that have outdone themselves in providing consumers with a shoddy experience.”

Despite their name, the peanut butter flavour Tim Tams contain no peanut products whatsoever. Instead, the peanut butter flavour is reportedly recreated by a mix of paprika extract and caramel food colours.

“And here’s the final rub: if you can forgive the fact that these biscuits are about as full of peanut butter as a Hungarian spice rack, it’s hard to look past the fact that, while they cost the same, there are only nine biscuits and 165 g in a pack - two biscuits and 35 g shy of a regular packet of Tim Tams,” a Choice statement said.

The makers of S-26 Gold Toddler and Junior milk drinks came under fire for dubious marketing practices, including promoting to the industry that the products will “Keep mums buying” even though health professionals say that formulas aren’t required for children over the age of one.

“For milking parental guilt in a toddler and formula market worth almost $100m, we think it’s time S-26 was watered down with a hefty dose of lemon,” said Choice.

For more information about this year’s Shonky Award winners, visit www.choice.com.au/shonkyaward.aspx.