In September of 2022, the juice brand Tropicana was put in the spotlight in Japan over what was called ‘deceptive marketing’. The case concerned Tropicana 100% Whole Fruit Melon Taste, which one might assume is made of 100% melon.
However, upon closer inspection, it was found that the product contains only two percent actual melon juice blended in with 98 percent apple, grape, and banana juices.
The Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan had warned Tropicana’s Japanese licensee Kirin Beverage earlier to stop the misleading packages. They complied and redesigned cartons with more prominently displayed apple and grapes and by replacing phrases like “100% MELON TASTE” with “100% FRUIT JUICE.”
However, it appears that the Consumer Affairs Agency wasn’t quite done with Kirin and on January 18 ordered the beverage maker to pay a fine of 19,150,000 yen (€135,000) for violating the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations.
Source: soranews24.com