Issue Date:  -  Tuesday, 3 August 2004

Chicken lovely legs turns foul for action

Action Supermarket Leda Prosecuted on Underweight Offences

Action Supermarkets Pty Ltd Leda store (Kwinana) was fined $20,000 plus costs of $3,399 on Friday (30-07-04) following a last minute plea-change to ‘guilty’ for offences relating to short weight prepacked meats.

In the Rockingham Court of Petty Sessions, Action faced 34 counts of short weights concerning meat products including Chicken Lovely Legs, premium mince and sausages, which they had led Consumer Protection to believe they would defend.

“This is not this trader’s first offence of this nature and the penalty handed down by the Court gives confidence to consumers that selling products underweight is a serious matter”, Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

On behalf of the Department, Prosecutor Hubert Du Guesclin summarised that the trader had 34 relatively minor deficiencies that would have gone unnoticed by all but the most vigilant consumers.

Magistrate Lawrence accepted that the cumulative effect of all those deficiencies was serious.

“Consumers rely on the honesty and accuracy of those responsible for weighing and packaging goods to ensure that they get a fair deal.

“I have instructed our Weights and Measures field officers to be very vigilant and to take seriously every instance of under weight goods discovered on our regular random checks of traders.

“We are very grateful for assistance from consumers who report underweight concerns to us, and I can say with confidence that their efforts help us to ensure that people get what they pay for”, Commissioner Walker said.

Complaints of short weights in pre packed goods should be referred to Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54.