Optimel's not so optimal drinking yoghurt
FrieslandCampina’s ‘Honey and Walnut Drinking Yoghurt’ boasts an impressive 0% fat, but unfortunately also possesses 0% honey and 0% walnut.
The newest product in the Optimel line, consumers have elected it on account of its containing only low fat yoghurt, juice, honey aroma, the sucralose - what Foodwatch considers a “controversial sweetener” - and starch.
It contains no real honey or walnut. Sucralose has also been linked obesity and diabetes in certain academic studies.
Foodwatch says that “profitability is the governing principle of Optimel” and that as with other products up for the award, cheap and unhealthy ingredients have replaced others in an effort to make the product appear as something it is not.
An Optimel spokesperson said: "We decided to name the product “Optimel Greek Style Yogurt drink: Honey and Walnut flavour”. Therefore, we were very surprised that we are nominated for the 'Gouden Windei' because of this name. We sincerely wonder what should have been the name of the product from the point of view of Foodwatch."
The ingredients list does not include any Walnut flavouring however, and the spokesperson said Optimel had no intention of altering the product or its packaging.
