A Chennai-based consumer forum has slapped a ₹1 lakh fine on FMCG powerhouse ITC Limited after a customer discovered that a packet of “Sun Feast Marie Light” biscuits contained one less biscuit than advertised. The incident, which dates back to December 2021, sheds light on deceptive packaging practices in the food industry.
Deceptive Packaging Unveiled
The saga began when P Dillibabu, a resident of MMDA Mathur in Chennai, purchased two packets of ‘Sun Feast Marie Light’ biscuits from a local retail store with the intention of feeding stray dogs. To his dismay, upon opening one of the packets, he discovered only fifteen biscuits instead of the promised sixteen. His attempts to seek an explanation from the store went unanswered, leading him to reach out to ITC for clarification. Regrettably, the company’s response was less than satisfactory, as reported by the Times of India.
A Costly Omission
Dillibabu’s complaint highlighted a startling revelation – ITC may have been shortchanging the public by over ₹29 lakh every day by providing one biscuit less than what was stated on the packaging. According to Dillibabu’s calculations, each biscuit costs ₹0.75, and ITC produces approximately 50 lakh packets daily. These back-of-the-envelope calculations strongly suggested that the company was depriving consumers of over ₹29 lakh each day.
Weight vs. Quantity
In its defense, ITC argued that the biscuits were sold based on weight, not quantity. The net weight mentioned on the packaging was 76 grams, but when the biscuit packets were weighed, they consistently contained only 74 grams. This line of reasoning failed to sway the consumer court, which ruled in favor of Dillibabu, affirming that deceptive trade practices had taken place.
Justice Served
As a result, the consumer court ordered ITC to pay ₹1 lakh to Dillibabu as compensation for engaging in unfair trade practices. Additionally, the company was instructed to halt the sales of the particular batch of biscuits in question.
A Lesson in Transparency
This incident serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accuracy in product packaging for both consumers and companies in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.
