Tangen Senter in Nesodden is one of several shopping centers that has a cotton candy machine. This caused Næss-Hartmann, and her tens of thousands of Instagram followers, to boil.
– As a mother of young children, I question the reason why such a machine appears in the first place, as we know that children are exposed to more and more sweets. And this product is largely aimed at the youngest, which I also doubt is legal, says Næss-Hartmann to TV 2.
The sugar spinning machines can also be found at five other shopping centers in and around Oslo.
The shopping center has been complained about
Næss-Hartmann, who became famous via the TV 2 series Farmen, wants making healthier food choices to be easier – not harder. Her opinion is that such machines contribute to the opposite.
– It has become quite common to sell candy in toy shops. Candy is always available at the cash register at the grocery store, and free candy/ice cream is given out constantly. In a society where more and more people are getting lifestyle diseases, I find it very unfortunate and strange that this machine has been placed in a number of shopping centers around the country. I hope there is a plan to remove it soon. I myself have contacted my community centre, and am in dialogue with them about this.
The Food Industry’s Professional Committee (MFU), which is an arrangement where a collective industry has undertaken to protect children against the marketing of a number of food and beverages, has received a complaint concerning the cotton candy machine.
The 36-year-old says that the complaint does not come from her, but that she also plans to do so.
Jorunn Røed, manager at Tangen Senter, says that they have now chosen to terminate the contract with the distributors behind the cotton candy machine. The machine is still at the center but will soon be removed.
– We do not believe that we have broken any laws or attempted to promote anything negative. Several people find it a fun offer, and agree that they themselves choose to buy cotton candy in the same way as other sweets in other places where goods are sold. The machine is being removed to avoid further debate on the topic at Tangen Senter, and with this the ball is put to rest, says Røed.
It is worth mentioning that there are also several people on social media who believe that the cotton candy machine is harmless, and that it is the parents’ responsibility to teach their children that sugar is dangerous – not the shopping centre’s responsibility.
SUGAR CANDY: Cotton candy is often a hit with children. Photo: Berit Roald / NTB
Others react to the fact that the strong colors and playful design are tailored for children, and can thus be considered marketing against children.
Kristaps Kaukis is the man behind the company Sukkerspinnspesialisten, which supplies these machines.
– I am saddened by the decision from Tangen Senter and think it is always necessary to have a discussion first.
He points out that another center that has cotton candy machines has made the statement: “We have many people who think the offer is positive, and if over time it should happen that no one wants the product, then the same thing happens with goods in shops generally, they disappear”.
Illegal or unfortunate?
Carsten Gunnarstorp, lawyer and head of the secretariat at MFU, says the processing time is six weeks. Before that time, he cannot say much about the matter.
– I cannot prejudge the committee’s assessment of this specific case, but the MFU aims to limit the marketing of sweet, salty and fatty foods to children and young adults. Businesses consistently align themselves with MFU’s decisions, and MFU’s work therefore influences the market in the right direction.
MFU must decide whether this is considered illegal or harmful marketing towards children.
According to the Marketing Act it is prohibited to directly encourage children to buy advertised benefits, or to persuade parents or other adults to buy the advertised benefits for them.
– As a result of the majority of traders aligning themselves with the MFU’s decision, it is natural to assume that the MFU’s guidelines represent the commercial practice that will form the basis for the Consumer Protection Authority’s assessment of similar cases, cf. the Marketing Act’s chapter 4 on the special protection of children, says Gunnarstorp , and continues:
– However, it is rare for the Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority to issue a decision on the marketing of salty, sweet and fatty foods to children. It is unclear to us whether this is due to the Consumer Authority not receiving complaints, as MFU does, or whether it is due to priorities on the authority’s part, says Gunnarstorp.
Less sugar than in soft drinks
The sugar spinning specialist’s manager, Kristaps Kaukis, says that the machine will be a fun addition to a shopping centre.
– The sugar spinning machines are an experience – an opportunity to observe how a robotic arm manages to transform two small tablespoons of sugar into a cloud of colour, a flower or another fantastic formation. It’s something new, something fun, something attention-grabbing.
He points out that the cotton candy specialist has never claimed that cotton candy is one of the healthiest things you can eat, and believes that they have never forced it on adults or children either.
– If you are to think that our machines encourage something, then perhaps it is space and not candy. There is no music, no promotional videos or anything else that would make the machines more attractive to certain customer groups. The prices we offer are not the lowest either. It is possible to buy half a kilo of snacks for the same price.
Finally, Kaukis wants to point out that, despite the name, cotton candy does not contain huge amounts of sugar. A white cotton candy contains approx. 25 grams of pure sugar. He warns that a 0.5 liter soft drink contains twice as much, or more, sugar than a cotton candy.
– How often do you see a person, regardless of age, with a soda bottle in their hands, compared to a cotton candy? With just this small observation, I can ask: Why should anyone feel that having a cotton candy machine in a shopping center is more dangerous for our sugar consumption than soft drinks or snacks, which can be bought everywhere?
