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The term "crisps" is a popular name for biscuit type products from China
and Japan and for example, the name "Hong Kong Crisps" will require
amendment when the 1970 Regulations come into force, but the chief objection
to this particular product was that the directions for cooking were
not properly given.
Two different products by the same manufacturer were both labelled "Rice
Crackers" although one was a much browner product and contained whole
ground nuts whilst the other contained pulverised ground nuts. Other rice
crisp cakes were made in England and should have been described as "Rice
Crisps Cocoa Flavoured" but in spite of the country of origin the list
of ingredients was in Japanese or Chinese. Similarly the description
"Chinese Grass" was incorrect for the product known in this country as
"Agar-Agar".
A cochineal extract was prepared with carmine and although carmine is
the colouring matter present in cochineal a solution of the pure chemical
cannot be termed "cochineal extract".
The illustrations on numerous labels were misleading, and no attention
had been paid to the comments of the Food Standards Committee in their
report on misleading descriptions, as for example, those on packets of
blancmange powder which were without even the words "Serving Suggestion".
A product described as "Muesli Base" gave no indication on the label that
fruit and milk were required.
The description "Apricot Pulp" for canned half apricots was hardly correct
and certainly bad advertising, and the label on the can of other apricots
showed illustrations of fruits not in the pack. The manufacturers stated,
however, that this product had been discontinued.
Six prepared desserts were incorrectly labelled, the fat being declared in
greater quantity than the sugar whereas the sugar was in greater quantity
than the fat. Moreover, as they were made with fat free cocoa they were
incorrectly described as "chocolate".
The illustration on an Oriental Dip implied that it was a kind of pizza
with olives and other decorations not present in the pack, and the words
"Sesame Seed Crush" were meaningless.
The name "Gari" was considered insufficient for a product which appeared
to be a sort of Cassava Semolina. It was labelled "foreign produce" but
was packed in England and according to the Labelling of Food Regulations
it must be labelled with its common or usual name, i.e. the English name.
The illustration of a roast chicken on chicken soup tablets was misleading
and the ingredients included "Grease". It also claimed the present
of pro-vitamin A without a sufficient quantity being present or disclosed.
The labelling of drugs is improving, but a cough is an ailment and a
cough candy was incorrectly labelled because it failed to disclose its
active ingredients. Some Tonic Tablets were 25 per cent deficient in total
iron and 50 per cent deficient in ferrous iron and a follow up sample
-was 5 per cent deficient in total iron and 10 per cent deficient in
ferrous iron and vitamin tablets were claimed to be made with pollen
extract whereas they were really made with yeast extract.
The drained weight instead of the net weight was given on a can of mushrooms
and whilst it is more logical to declare the drained weight, English
law demands otherwise. The weight given on a stick-'on label on a salad
dressing mix was incorrect although the weight originally printed on the
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