try another color:
try another fontsize: 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 110%

Consumer News UK Daily Web Articles March 8 2010

Mon, 2010-03-08

1. (goto www.ncf.info for today's news)  Battle lost for compulsory traffic light food labelling - consumer groups bitterly disappointed.

The Telegraph reports that a decade-long battle to introduce 'traffic light' warnings on food has been lost after the Government regulator bowed to industry pressure. Consumer and health groups are bitterly disappointed  that the scheme, which warns shoppers if a product is unhealthy, had been watered down - and just made optional. The Food Standards Agency has published fresh guidelines in an attempt to end confusion over the nutrition labels that manufacturers and retailers print on the front of food packets.However, under pressure from the food industry, it has dropped the stipulation that companies have to use a traffic light warning system.  FULL STORY (telegraph.co.uk).  Which? in particular is far from happy about the outcome.  Their CEO, Peter Vicary-Smith, says: “We want the FSA board to stick to its guns, continue to use an evidence-based approach and push for a single labelling scheme that will help people to make informed decisions about the foods they eat.”  Which? comments in full.

2.  Serious errors were made in setting up the Equalities Commission says official report.

The formation of the government's equality watchdog was "patently flawed" and cost the taxpayer almost £39m, according to a parliamentary report just published. And the report from the public accounts committee warns there are still weaknesses in the commission's controls over staff costs. "The process by which this new body had been established, at a total cost to the taxpayer of nearly £39m, was patently flawed," said Edward Leigh, the committee's chairman. The commission has been dogged by criticism since its creation from the merger of the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission.  FULL STORY (guardian.co.uk)

3.  Young consumers are denying themselves rights: Over half of young people old enough to vote are not registered to do so.

More than half of all young people eligible to vote are not registered to do so, the elections watchdog has warned. Officials have been urged to make "one final push" to get more people registered before the general election.  The Electoral Commission said more than 3.5m people may not be registered. Its research suggested 56% of 17-25 year olds were not on the electoral roll. FULL STORY (bbc.co.uk)

4.  Law firm investigated over claims of bullying over alleged illegal file sharing.

With the legality of much file sharing currently the subject of active debate, there comes the news that a prominent law firm is to be investigated.  The Guardian reports that a leading law firm is being investigated over claims that it bullied and harassed hundreds of people wrongly accused of illegal file sharing. The Solicitors Regulation Authority, an industry watchdog, said it is investigating a complaint brought against Davenport Lyons, the London-based solicitors' firm that has led a number of prosecutions against illegal file sharers. The consumer group Which? first made an official complaint in 2008, after a number of people contacted it to say that they had received letters from Davenport Lyons demanding payment for illegal downloads that were nothing to do with them. FULL STORY (guardian.co.uk)

5.  Gardening novices are growing their own gold plated carrots, says Which?

Which? has issued a timely warning to novice gardeners to keep one eye on costs when they indulge in their new hobby. They could be spending over 100 times more than they need to on growing their own vegetables. Which? Gardening found one company, Gardening Direct, selling carrot plug plants for £1.09 each - each ‘plug’ produces just one carrot. However, carrots are really easy to grow from seed, and a packet containing hundreds of seeds can cost as little as £1. The same company sells beetroot plants at the same price. Again, each ‘plug’ produces just one beetroot. Beetroot are easy to grow from seed, while four fresh beetroot can be bought in the supermarket for under £1. Gardening Direct is not the only company doing this. Although Thompson and Morgan carrot plug plants are much cheaper – 14p per carrot – they still offer really poor value for money when compared to growing vegetables from seed.  FULL STORY (which.co.uk)

END