Seven brands of vanaspati, which include Dalda, Madhuram, Ranjit, Rasadaa, Rath, Sunflower and Sarthi, had sold less than the weight claimed by their respective labels.
This observation has been made by Insight consumer magazine published by the Ahmedabad-based Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), based on the tests carried out by its in-house laboratory.
The CERC laboratory tested a total of eight brands including the Godrej brand. It also tested two loose samples purchased locally from the Maninagar and Gomtipur areas of Ahmedabad and one brand of interesterified fat (pourable alternative to vanapati), Dalda Activ.
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According to the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules 1977, actual weight should not be less than two per cent of the labelled weight. Sarthi, did not even conform to the above rules and for every pack of Sarthi, one would have paid 11 paise more.
Except for Godrej, all the brands of vanaspati gave less than their labelled weight although they were within the tolerance limits of the weights and measures rules. Godrej and Dalda Activ gave more than the labelled weight in every one of their packs, the CERC report said.
According to CERC, due to the underweight of the vanaspati branded packs, consumers stand to lose their money ranging from two paise to 20 paise on every pack. The amounts may not look big, but to consumers as a class, they mean a lot. And to a manufacturer, who sells in thousands of tonne, the figures add up to quite a bit.
Emphasising that this is a case of unjust enrichment of the manufacturer, CERC said that no consumer should be made to pay for a quantity that he does not receive.
CERC