Coles and Woolworths have been given the academic equivalent of a rap on the knuckles over their subpar online product labelling, but the consequences could be catastrophic.
The UNSW Sydney has found that nearly all food products in the chains’ online stores contained errors or omissions that may pose a health and safety risk for customers.
A study, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, found that of 22,000 products examined, the vast majority did not display at least one type of product information.
Perhaps the most disturbing is that only 53 per cent display allergens, which could have fatal outcomes.
“Traditionally, shoppers could simply pick up a product to find relevant information. However, there are no requirements to provide the same information to online shoppers before they decide to commit their cash,” says Damian Maganja, lead author of the study.
“It’s not surprising to see a huge gap in how the major supermarkets provide product information in their online grocery stores, which might not be deliberate or malicious but does fail to help people with choosing products that meet their dietary or health needs.”
The study found many products also did not display health star ratings (HSR) and nutrition information panels (NIP). While not as potentially dangerous as allergens, they could also have considerable health impacts.
The study said NIPs and HSRs were “crucial tools” for reducing the risk of major chronic diseases such as heart attacks and diabetes.
And it’s not as if they can’t do it properly. The study found supermarkets labelled country of origin correctly almost 93 per cent of the time. The difference is, that’s a legal requirement. It seems the supermarkets are more concerned about falling foul of legislation than ensuring consumers can make safe purchasing decisions.
This week’s best deals
Coles
Sensible: Lamb loin chops, $18/kg. Holy overpriced meat cuts! Lamb chops are under $20/kg. Go out and buy them now so you can reminisce about this price in the years to come.
Indulgence: T2 Iced Tea, four pack, $6, save $4. T2 products are expensive, but for good reason. They pack a flavour punch so strong it makes you squint a bit.
See the catalogue here.
Aldi
Sensible: Westacre Dairy Tasty Cheese, 1kg, $9.99. Compares well to more well-known brands and I know that because my fussy kids haven’t noticed it’s not their usual. Go me. Also, if the 1kg block seems intimidating, it freezes well if you want to cut it in half and save some for later.
Indulgence: Antipasto Board Mini Grazing Platter, $8.99. I’d eat this for a meal. I’d feel mildly guilty about the lack of vegetables, but I’d still do it. At $44.95 a kilo, it compares quite well to buying each ingredient separately.
See the catalogue here.
Woolworths
Sensible: Mangoes, $3.50 each. Love mango season. Eat on their own or zhoosh up a bit in a salsa or dessert. Fun fact: related to cashews and pistachios but also the poison ivy family, which is why the peel, leaves, stems and bark can give you a rash. It’s basically the puffer fish of fruit.
Indulgence: Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce, $6, save $1.50. If you’ve only ever tried the usual barbecue sauces, please, I beg of you, in the interests of your taste buds, try this brand. Awesome in this cult recipe for pulled pork.
See the catalogue here.
IGA
Sensible: Community Co Chocolate Mud Cake, $6.40 each. Is it even an office party if one of these doesn’t come out? Cheap, cheerful and always draws a crowd.
Indulgence: Nanna’s Apple Pie, $4. I love a bit of desperate product cross-promotion. IGA has this in their footy finals section. Doesn’t every footy party end with the host declaring: “Apple pie everyone?”
See the catalogue here.
Do you check the labelling when you shop online? Do you think the supermarkets provide enough detail? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: Something fishy about seafood labelling
