The Food Standards Agency is carrying out a survey of tin in canned fruit and vegetable products to bring its data on these products up to date. The survey identified a problem with elevated levels of tin in samples of 400g cans of Heinz canned spaghetti in tomato sauce. As a precaution Heinz are withdrawing certain batches of this product sold both separately and in four-can multipacks. The cans affected are those that include MSLD as part of the product code printed on the bottom of the can.
The Food Standards Agency issued a Press Release on January 31st advising against the consumption of the affected product.
If you have any of these cans with the MSLD code you should remove the label and dispose of the can, write the product code on the label together with your name and address in block capitals and return it to Heinz at the address below You will, says the FSA Press Release, receive a voucher to cover the full value of the product.
Heinz Spaghetti 400G
FREEPOST ANG 8097,
DISS, IP98 3HH
If canned spaghetti from the affected batches were eaten, it could cause short-term stomach upsets or headaches in some people, but no long-term effects would be expected. Tin levels of over 200 mg/kg have been found in some cans from the affected batches with the highest levels up to around 300 mg/kg. Consumers who would like further information on this recall by Heinz should call the company's customer care line on 0800 496 3283
THE BBG ASKS ABOUT MISLEADING PACKAGING
What are your views on packaging that closely mimics the packaging of existing products? This is a question recently put to John Noble of the British Brands Group (BBG) via the NfCG Hot Issues Group* and concerns not counterfeits but those goods, frequently on the shelves of supermarkets and chain stores, where the packaging of an own brand product is very similar to that of a rival national brand.
Research in this area indicates very similar packaging suggests to shoppers that the goods are made by the same manufacturer, that the quality is therefore essentially similar and the only difference is in the price. In reality, the goods often have no connection with the original at all and there may be some marked differences in quality. Furthermore, research suggests that similar packaging makes it easier to pick up the wrong product.
Some manufacturers believe that there is no need for competing products to use very similar packaging and that consumers would prefer goods to be clearly differentiated from each other so that false assumptions and mistakes are not made.
Leave a telephone message on the NfCG office answerphone or phone or fax Sue Payne on 01285 643707 or Moyra Haynes on 01865 865253 (just phone) or write to the Editor or e-mail him on editor@ncf.info
* Consumers and business meet together at NfCG’s Hot Issues Group to discuss issues where there is current or potential wide debate.
Just after Christmas the FSA issued an unusual Press Release. It alerted UK investors who might be interested in the Spanish securities market that the Regulator, the Comision Nation del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) has taken action in relation to the activities of Thibault International Financial Advisory Corporation SA (Thibault).
Thibault, which provides investment services to clients from its base in Barcelona, has been targeting UK investors. It has a London FREEPOST address, but is not authorised to conduct investment business from within the UK, nor is it regulated by the FSA or any other British regulatory body. CNMV has issued a public warning that Thibault is not registered with them either! It has evidence that Thibault is receiving and passing on securities orders from investors without being in possession of CNMV authorisation.
As one would expect, CNMV has initiated proceedings against Thibault, its current director and its former directors. It has required Thibault to cease its activities, not take on any new clients and close its existing client relationships in such a way that clients' interests are protected.
The FSA advises investors to always check that a firm is authorised to trade in the UK by ringing the FSA consumer helpline or making certain that the firm is on the central register of those authorised via the FSA website - www.fsa.gov.uk. If a firm is not authorised, investors will be without the protection provided by the regulatory regime, in the UK, including the Ombudsman service and the Investors Compensation Scheme.
The CNMV would be interested to heap from any UK investors who have had dealings with Thibault. If any readers are in this position they should write to: The Comision Nation del Mercado de Valores Departamento de Atencio al Publico Paseo de la Castellana, 19 28046-Madrid, Spain.
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