Seafood company fined for short weight goods

27 March 2009
Media Release

Seafood company fined for short weight goods

An Auckland seafood company, Shore Mariner Limited, was convicted and fined $2,000 plus costs in the Manukau District Court on 23 March 2009, for breaching section 16A(2) of the Weights and Measures Act 1987.

In April 2008, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs received a complaint from a consumer alleging that, after they had defrosted a 500 gram package of Signature Range Marinara Seafood Mix, it was 150 grams short in weight.

Following this complaint the Ministry carried out an inspection of Signature Range Marinara Seafood Mix and randomly selected a sample of 32 packages from a lot of 780.

“When defrosted, 31 of the 32 sample packages were short weight by up to 57 grams. This represented a considerable loss to consumers for this high value product,” said Stephen O’Brien, Manager, Measurement and Product Safety Service.

“Consumers would have been paying for something they weren’t getting.”

“It is not acceptable for consumers to receive short weight, and that traders who comply with the law face unfair competition from those who don’t.”

“The Ministry is pleased with the conviction. It sends a clear message to suppliers and retailers that they must have systems in place to make sure that the goods they sell are the correct weight, and comply with the requirements of the Weights and Measures Act,” said Stephen O’Brien.

Shore Mariner Limited pleaded guilty in January 2009 to the charge of ‘having in possession for sale’ short weight Signature Range Marinara Seafood Mix.

Visit the Ministry of Consumer Affairs website – www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz

ENDS

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