Published Thursday, 06 September, 2007 at 09:52 AM
Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading, Wine Industry Development and Women
The Honourable Margaret Keech
UNDERWEIGHT CHEESECAKES LEAVE A SOUR TASTE
A packaged food company has been fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $516 in court costs after it supplied a Brisbane fast food outlet with underweight vanilla cheesecakes.
Fair Trading Minister, Margaret Keech, said Melbourne-based company Exquisine Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to supplying the short measure cheesecakes.
“Office of Fair Trading inspectors found the company supplied cheesecakes weighing as much as a quarter less than the weight advertised on the packaging,” she said.
“The cheesecakes were advertised as 145 grams but individual items weighed up to 38.4 grams less than the advertised weight, a shortfall of approximately 26 per cent.”
The Office of Fair Trading estimates that consumers were short-changed by about $57,000 over 12 months.
“The fine should serve as a warning to all food manufacturers that breaches of trade measurement laws are treated very seriously in Queensland because they cost consumers dearly,” Mrs Keech said.
“The short weight was discovered by inspectors from the Office of Fair Trading who enforce trade measurement laws.
“Suppliers who package goods by weight should have their scales serviced regularly so they remain accurate.”
“Giving short measure or weight is a sure-fire way to drive customers away from a business.”
For more information on consumer rights visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005
Fair Trading Minister, Margaret Keech, said Melbourne-based company Exquisine Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to supplying the short measure cheesecakes.
“Office of Fair Trading inspectors found the company supplied cheesecakes weighing as much as a quarter less than the weight advertised on the packaging,” she said.
“The cheesecakes were advertised as 145 grams but individual items weighed up to 38.4 grams less than the advertised weight, a shortfall of approximately 26 per cent.”
The Office of Fair Trading estimates that consumers were short-changed by about $57,000 over 12 months.
“The fine should serve as a warning to all food manufacturers that breaches of trade measurement laws are treated very seriously in Queensland because they cost consumers dearly,” Mrs Keech said.
“The short weight was discovered by inspectors from the Office of Fair Trading who enforce trade measurement laws.
“Suppliers who package goods by weight should have their scales serviced regularly so they remain accurate.”
“Giving short measure or weight is a sure-fire way to drive customers away from a business.”
For more information on consumer rights visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005