Consumers International, a global consumer group, has issued its list of 2007’s worst products worldwide. One of the top contenders is Rozerem, a sleeping pill marketed for children by the United States leg of Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

The “back-to-school” advertisements [the company ran], which complied with US law, promoted the sleeping pills to parents without including health warnings for children, Consumers International said.

“This case demonstrates the lengths to which some drug companies will go to increase sales of their products, how direct to consumer advertising can promote irrational drug use, and how weak regulation can foster irresponsible corporate behaviour.”

Kellogg’s also got a bad product award because so many of its food products use cartoon characters and other gimmicks to draw kids to them, despite the unhealthily high levels of sugar and salt in many of these items.

Other recipients include Coca-Cola (for Dasani, its water of not-so-exotic origins) and Mattel, for its massive problems with lead in its toys.

“These multi-billion dollar companies are global brands with a responsibility to be honest, accountable and responsible,” the group’s director general Richard Lloyd said.

“In highlighting their shortcomings, Consumers International and its 220 member organisations are holding corporations to account and demanding businesses take social responsibility seriously.”

Well, here’s to hoping, anyway.

Posted by Sunshining.