GCSE Food and NutritionConsumer Issues and Advertising

Learning Objectives

To be able to understand consumer protection and legislation

To develop an understanding of methods of seeking a remedy

To understand advertising strategies and regulations

Consumer ProtectionConsumer Protection are laws to make sure

that the goods and services you buy are of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose.

When a consumer buys goods or services, they enter into a contract with the seller which is covered by

statutory regulations

Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994This act states that:• goods must be of satisfactory quality,

including safety aspects and materials used, and free from faults.

• Goods must be fit for purpose: a potato peeler must peel potatoes

• Goods must be as described on the packaging

Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994

Food Safety Act 1990Under the Food Safety Act, it is an offence to:• Sell food that could make people ill

• Sell food that is unfit to eat

• Mislead consumers through exaggerated pictures or descriptions on labels, packaging or menus

• Sell food that is not of the quality described or make false claims about nutritional value

Trade Descriptions Act 1968/72This act applies to second-hand gods as well as

new products, and to items sold on the internet:goods must be described accurately by the

seller andmust not mislead about the: - quality - price - manufacture - functions - safety aspects

Weights and Measures Act 1985This Act:• Protects the consumers from goods being sold

in incorrect weights and quantities

• Packaged goods must show the • exact weight

• Scales are accurate where goods are sold loose ( Trading Standards Officers)

Food Labelling Regulations 1995Labels should clearly show Name of contents

Address of manufacturer

Use by and best before date

Storage instructions

Weight of food

Ingredients in descending order of weight

Nutrition information

Any special claims

Trading Standards Department - investigate false or misleading claims - concerns about safety of food

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

The Citizens Advice Bureau - give advice on individual complaints or - about seeking redress in the Small Claims

Court

This is an independent organisation

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

The Environmental Health DepartmentDeals with complaints about unfit food or

drink: - nails in bread or beetles in flour - dirty food shops or restaurants

The Office of Fair TradingThis is a government department which protects consumers from

- unscrupulous traders who try to deceive customers OR

- who provide unsatisfactory goods or services

http://oft.gov.uk/

ComplainingStatutory rights state that you are entitled to a

replacement or refund if:• The product you bought was faulty or unsafe

• The product was not as described on the packaging

• The goods were not fit for purpose

• The product was not of a satisfactory standard

Complaining

You are not entitles to a replacement or refund if:

You have changed your mindYou have not followed the care instructionsYou have damaged the product yourselfYou have seen the product cheaper in another

shop

How to seek redress• Take the product back to the shop with the

receipt

• Explain the problem – Customer Service Desk

• If you fail to get a satisfactory outcome write a letter of complaint to the head office (address on retailer’s website)

• At a last resort you can take your complaint to the Small Claim Court