It's pay back time for the producers of counterfeit food.
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The Honest Food Labelling campaign, is unmasking sinners in the nation’s shopping basket. <<< WATCH RECENT BBC1 NEWS FEATURING MISLEADING LABELLING: After being commissioned by BBC, Rob Ward crested Honest Labelling.com designed to expose misleading food packaging and celebrate good examples of food packaging. This site is about fixing what’s wrong not victimising producers. With people power, you can vote AND up-load for your Angels and Sinners of food packaging. Rob also founded The Food Marketing Network to offer the food industry a free, simple way to keep up to date and to share ideas and experiences. More information about this site and Rob Ward, www.FoodMarketingNetwork.com |
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Basic Broccoli spears hurt your wallet
Value driven food categories across all the supermarkets have featured heavily throughout the recession as we are all looking for ways to save our hard earned pennies, but by opting for the cheaper value products, are you really getting value for money?
It has been brought to our attention by one J Sainsbury’s shopper, Russell Bowes that the Sainsbury’s Basic broccoli is in fact more expensive than their loose head broccoli. Sainsbury’s basic broccoli is priced at £2.63 per Kg (31/01/10), however you may be surprised to hear that their loose head broccoli is cheaper at £1.97 per Kg (31/01/10) meaning better value is to be had when buying the loose head broccoli opposed to the basics. Russell informs us that this dramatic price variation of 66p per Kg is only evident on close inspection when examining what Russell describes as “conveniently coloured price labels” which makes it difficult to read the price per Kg.
When we compared these prices at Tesco (24/02/10), we found that Tesco value Broccoli was 18p per Kg cheaper than the Tesco loose head broccoli and 83p per Kg cheaper than J Sainsbury’s basics broccoli.
When Russell queried the price difference between the basic and loose head broccoli in J Sainsbury’s, he was told “Basics broccoli plants are perhaps not as good or perhaps thinner so it has to be cut up”. Russell queried this, the story then changed “the loose broccoli comes from Spain” – but according to Russell was again forced to change the story when it was pointed out that the “Country of Origin” on the Basics bag also said Spain. Sainsbury’s care line were unable to make sense of this subject when questioned by Russell.
A few days later Russell returned to Sainsbury’s to find what he describes as “a big sign up over the broccoli, one which had been designed to look like its written on a blackboard a la “farmers market” style” which said “British Broccoli – fresh and in season!”. Russell then pointed out that every single solitary head of broccoli bagged or otherwise, was from Spain – the sign was taken down immediately.
We have been informed that this sign has now been replaced by a large notice reminding people that they can use the broccoli stalk (the bit that remains after the florets have been trimmed off) “to add to soups and stews – so no waste! Even better value!” surely this would only apply to the loose heads, rather than the “Basics” which is chopped into individual florets and doesn’t have any stalk? Russell describes J Sainsbury “as playing games with their consumers which is wrong!”
In response to Russell’s allegations of misleading labelling, Sainsbury’s Customer Manager said “The basics range broccoli comes prepared and packaged and therefore a price comparison with loose broccoli would give a misleading view. Our basics range is cheaper compared to the equivalent Sainsbury’s packed broccoli florets but loose broccoli will be cheaper as it has not been prepared or pre-packaged” and that “the difference in price reflects the need for processing and packing the Basics broccoli”.
So buyers beware, shop around for the better value deals and do not be mislead.
British retailers use misleading chicken labels
Source: World Poultry http://tinyurl.com/yl4ckeb
British food companies are selling products that contain meat from foreign countries, but labeling them “British” or “traditional”, according to research done by the British newspaper The Independent.
Supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and the Co-op sell some processed meals with ingredients sourced from overseas in a way that has raised complaints with customers.
A shepherd’s pie sold by Sainsbury’s as part of its British Classics range with a Union Jack on the packaging, is made with lamb from New Zealand. Another British Classics meal, Lancashire hotpot, also contains New Zealand lamb, along with Marks & Spencer’s “traditional favourite” shepherd’s pie.
All three list the meat’s country of origin somewhere on the packaging – unlike Birds Eye’s chicken dinner meal from its “British Traditional” range. The product carries a picture of rolling green fields reminiscent of the English countryside, but is made in a factory in the Republic of Ireland and contains intensively produced chicken from Thailand, says the report.
Birds Eye changed the product’s name from “Great British Menu” at the start of the year after complaints from members of the public. In small print on the back, the pack states the chicken comes from abroad but does not state its country of origin.
Rob Ward, founder of the Honest Food Labeling Campaign, said according to the Food Standards Agency, a food company cannot portray a product using words or images that misrepresent the food, so if they are using a scene of rolling countryside then that should imply those ingredients are from that scene.
Sainsbury’s insisted its labeling was “clear and transparent”.
‘British classics’ made with meat from the other side of the world
Campaigners say products on supermarket shelves are misleading customers
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Source: The Independent http://tinyurl.com/ya6u4fy
Food companies are selling products labelled “British” or “traditional” which contain meat from thousands of miles away, research for The Independent shows.
Supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and the Co-op now stock more British meat, but some sell processed meals with ingredients sourced from overseas in a way that may jar with customers.
A shepherd’s pie sold by Sainsbury’s as part of its British Classics range with a Union Jack on the packaging, is made with lamb from New Zealand, 11,000 miles away. Another British Classics meal, Lancashire hotpot, also contains New Zealand lamb, along with Marks & Spencer’s “traditional favourite” shepherd’s pie.
All three list the meat’s country of origin somewhere on the packaging – unlike Birds Eye’s chicken dinner meal from its “British Traditional” range.
The product carries a picture of rolling green fields reminiscent of the English countryside, but is made in a factory in the Republic of Ireland and contains intensively produced chicken from Thailand, 6,000 miles away. Birds Eye changed the product’s name from “Great British Menu” at the start of the year after complaints from members of the public. In small print on the back, the pack states the chicken comes from abroad but does not state its country of origin.
Rob Ward, founder of the Honest Food Labelling Campaign, said: “The Food Standards Agency (FSA) say you cannot portray a product using words or images that misrepresent the food, so if you are using a scene of rolling countryside then that should imply those ingredients are from that scene.
“More importantly, Birds Eye also mis-use the word ‘traditional’. The use of ‘traditional’ is defined by the FSA as something made in its original form, so a roast chicken dinner implies small-scale production, but clearly this is made in a factory in southern Ireland and it isn’t even made by Birds Eye.”
Mr Ward, who invites the public to vote on misleading marketing on his website, honestlabelling.com, said Sainsbury’s should not have used the term British Classic on a dish containing Antipodean meat, even if it was in season. “I think it’s wrong,” he said. “Sainsbury’s have announced they are only using British and Irish beef so that’s a great step forward … so clearly they believe it matters.”
Sainsbury’s insisted its labelling was “clear and transparent”. A spokesman said: “In this case the ‘Great British Classics’ name and use of the Union Jack is to highlight the fact that both shepherd’s pie and Lancashire hotpot are both uniquely British dishes. The packaging on both clearly states the lamb is from New Zealand and it is important to remember we only use New Zealand lamb when lamb is out of season in the UK.”
Birds Eye said: “We are always clear about the source of our ingredients. If any of our products, including our ‘Traditional Beef/Chicken Dinner’, are produced in the UK but contain meat which is sourced from other countries, then we clearly state this on the pack.”
Marks & Spencer was unavailable for comment.
FOOD LABELLING CASES HIGHLIGHT DIFFICULTIES FACING MANUFACTURERS
Source: The Food & Drink Innovation Network – http://tinyurl.com/yfdv5cd
Two recent cases involving UK food companies once again highlight the wider problems and difficulties of labelling facing food manufacturers, according to experts at law firm Pinsent Masons.
In the last two weeks, there have been calls for lemonade brand Fentimans to be banned in the US for containing trace amounts of alcohol, while sandwich chain Pret a Manger has come under fire for not reporting the origins of the chicken and fish used in certain products.
Commenting on the stories, food regulation lawyer Pauline Munro said, “These sorts of cases, where labelling is being questioned, are becoming more and more common as consumers take a closer look at what’s contained in products. But Manufacturers face real difficulties when deciding how to label food products and what information to include – they have to abide by regulations, but they have to balance this with the need to brand, advertise and market their products using what little space is available to them on packaging and in-store displays.
“In the instance with Fentimans, the level of alcohol in the product was minimal, yet it was said by campaign groups in the US that it was passing itself off as ‘imitation liquor’, meaning it may end up being reclassified as an alcoholic beverage only available to those over 21. Meanwhile, Pret a Manger, who have admitted fish and chicken in some products was frozen and shipped from abroad, have come under fire from consumers who feel they’ve been mislead over the company’s ‘just made’ advertising tag-line.
“In both instances, neither company has done wrong by the letter of the law, but the spirit of food labelling is increasingly coming to the fore as consumers demand more transparency from manufacturers. These cases go to show that manufacturers need to ensure they are not only complying with the law on food labelling but also highlight the importance of making sure consumers are aware of what they are purchasing; getting it wrong can not only lead to prosecution, but also severe commercial damage. Fentimans has been able to shrug off much of the publicity around the story, and has even seen an increase in inquiries from consumers as a result, but Pret a Manger’s PR has not been so good. Until there is more guidance from regulators and collaboration between various parts of the industry on food labelling, we’re bound to see more stories like this in the future.”
Food campaigner claims victory over label
By Isabel Davies
Source: FWI – http://tinyurl.com/yhf3q4o
A food labelling campaigner is claiming victory after Bird’s Eye agreed to drop the words ‘Great British Menu’ from a ready meal made with imported meat.
The packaging was highlighted by food champion Rob Ward as the sort which had the potential to mislead consumers when he launched the Honest Labelling Campaign.
The dish in question was described as ‘Great British Menu – Roast Chicken Dinner.’ However, the dish used imported meat and is manufactured in Republic of Ireland.
Mr Ward said he was pleased that the words had been changed, although he still thought that more could be done.
“They have removed the words ‘Great British Menu…’ and replaced it with ‘Traditional’, he said.
“I don’t think that this product, which is made in a substantial factory in Southern Ireland, reflects any traditional manufacturing process.”
A spokesperson for Bird’s Eye said: “Listening to our consumers is at the core of what we do and we were concerned to hear that some people found this particular product name misleading.
