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Source: Breakfast -
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Consumers are struggling to adjust to the condensed washing powder packets, telling Breakfast they are suspicious about the concentrate claims.
Most companies are changing to smaller packages, saying the washing powder is twice the strength it used to be.
The consumers watchdog has received about a dozen emails and numerous phone calls about the new packaging with most consumers questioning the honesty of the double strength claims.
Consumer New Zealand says people are asking how many scoops they should use although the instructions on the packaging clearly state they only need to use one of the smaller size scoops.
The watchdog is carrying out tests along with its Australian counterpart to check the double strength claims are accurate. The results are expected later this year.
There has been no anecdotal evidence to date to suggest clothes are not as clean using the reduced quantity of powder.
Downweighting
Earlier in the month ONE News reported on complaints about food products. Consumers chief executive Sue Chetwin told Simon Mercep customers say they are paying more for less.
"The net weight and packaging is changing but the price isn't," says Chetwin.
Manufacturers call it downweighting and Chetwin says it is happening in supermarkets across the board.
She cites the instance of a 350 gram packet of Milo costing $4.49 and three weeks later a suddenly smaller size packet of 310 grams still costing 4.49.
Chetwin wants all supermarkets to adopt unit pricing "so there can be no trickery". She says this allows consumers to compare prices per 100gm or litre rather than what's in the packet. Chetwin says this is mandatory in several countries, including most of Europe.
The practice is not illegal because manufacturers are putting the net weight on the packaging but Chetwin believes it is "marginal in terms of being misleading".
And she says it is not being clearly conveyed to consumers. She says it is only the "really tenacious consumers" who have spotted it.
Watch Fair Go tonight as reporter Ruwani Perera looks into the new super concentrated washing powders and how they're being marketed
What do you think about the new packaging for washing powder? Have your say on the messageboard below
Add a Comment:
Post new commentKereama said on 2009-05-20 @ 14:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
We use liquid clothes detergent, not powder, and recently switched to the concentrate, and clothes are just as clean and fresh. the bottles take up less space and go in the recycling
maggie-bop said on 2009-05-20 @ 13:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Why not just use eco powder? It doesn't have the "filler" in it and the packaging is biodegradable. I buy one about every 3-4 months for about 2-3 washes per week. And don't forget, the meansurements stated on the packaging of any product are just guidelines - why not try using less!
Piglet said on 2009-05-20 @ 10:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
Get over it. It's half the packaging going into our landfill, half the additives bulking out the product, the clothes are just as clean. Personally, I use the eco range