Nestle criticised over halving the size of Killer Pythons to battle obesity
FMCG giant Nestle is copping criticism 0n social media after the company halved the size of children’s favourite ‘the killer python’, claiming it was doing it on health grounds.
In a media announcement titled “meet the new scale-friendly Killer Python” Nestle announced it would reduce the size of the confectionary product from 47g to 24g, but the move immediately drew criticism among consumers, many of whom considered the killer python a childhood favourite.
Among the tweets and Facebook messages were criticisms of Nestle for the reasons given for the change and the fact that the product would now be very similar to its ‘snakes’ product:
It also saw a hashtag, it had created for the initiative #TreatSizePython, hijacked by angry consumers.
In a statement the company justified the move on health grounds citing the growing issue of childhood obesity as justification for the move.
“It’s part of helping people improve their nutrition, health and wellness, and underlines our fundamental belief that for a company to be successful, it must also create value for society,” said Martin Brown Nestle general manager – confectionery.
The company also noted that while the size had halved so had the price, moving from $1 to 50 cents.
It also signalled that the change to killer pythons was part of a wider initiative.
“We’re now offering confectionery with responsibly sourced ingredients, on-pack portion education and changes such as revised portion sizes and resealable packaging,” said Martin.
Nic Christensen
Update: In response to the social media backlash a spokesman for Nestle said:
“Killer Pythons are mostly eaten by children, so this move was aimed at ensuring we’re delivering appropriate sized treats for them.
“The original Killer Python would take a ten year old almost an hour of soccer to burn off; whereas it takes just half an hour to burn off the reduced one. We know not everyone will love the change, but we do think we need to do the right thing.”
This is pretty ridiculous. Are bakers going to halve the size of french sticks because people are too stupid to be responsible for their own intake?
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I’ll take two
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They python has been got at by a snack in the grass
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At 24 grams that python’s not killing anyone. Is this just another example of deceptive advertising? Disappointing Nestlé.
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This is the company that decided that a Milo drink could also be a nutritional cereal.
Righto…
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Killer Python? More like Carpet Snake.
Also, while we’re on a Nestle bash, why can’t I find Chokito’s in my Coles anymore? Surely they aren’t killing that like they did the Pollywaffle? Anybody? HEEEEEELP!
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Are they renaming them Slightly Dangerous Pythons?
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There should be a vacancy in their PR dept soon. As soon as they find out who thought people would fall for this patently idiotic reasoning.
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This has nothing to do with nutrition or health. It would simply be because Killer Pythons in their previous size weren’t selling well – they were difficult to package (long, narrow packages with only two or three in each one) and couldn’t sit alongside other lollies in the confectionery aisle. Now they’re packaged like other lollies and so will sell much better. Simple.
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Don’t they know there’s a war on….
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Worried about child obesity? Rubbish!.
47gm now. They will be 24gm. 2X 24gm = 48gm,=1gm more for the same price= STUPID LOGIC!
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Dr Oyvind, I have bought chokito in supermarkets recently, different packaging no I think.
But far more important, you Nestlé bastards is the return of the SCORCHED PEANUT BAR!
Bring it back and no one gets hurt.
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Nutty, get a Whitaker’s Peanut Slab instead!
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They’re all just a bunch of snakes…
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@JNK – they wont sell if people think they’re not value for money. Customers always have the power…. stores would be wise to remember that!
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This obsession with babying people in to eating healthily isn’t going to work and has been proven not to work.
The problem is that businesses like Nestle are seeing sales drop across the board and the only reason they can give that doesn’t get them all fired is that people are more health conscious.
Nothing to do with mediocre products, poor communications and pandering to the oligopoly that is Coles and Woolies!
Normal intelligence needs to prevail, lollies are lollies and should continue being lollies.
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Obviosuly someone misunderstood that the word Killer was nothing to do with childhood obesity or excess sugar.
But whilst we’re at it, bring back Space Food Sticks and bags of Violet Crumble.
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Daughter: “Don’t chop the dinosaur daddy.”
Father holds up snake.
Daughter: “Chop it”.
That little girl is now grown up and working at Nestle.
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Im as mad as a cut snake
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