Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
March 2010
03/2010
Rs 50
0.753*
EER (w/w)
Appliance/Type
Brand
Mode/Year
Capacity
Power
: Geyser
: YYYY
: ABC/2007
: XX
: XX
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
3.11*
EER (w/w)
Appliance/Type
: XX/Window
Brand
: YYYY
Model/Year
: ABC/2007
Cooling Capacity (W) : XX
Power Consumption (W) : XX
Variable Speed Compressor : Yes/No
Heat Pump
: Yes/No
165*
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION
580*
: Refrigerator
Brand
Model
Type
Gross volume
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: ABC
: XYZ 270/2007
: Frost Free
: 270 liters
: 260 liters
E
BE
E
BE
Contents
REPORT
Direct to
Rural Homes
COMPARATIVE TEST
Microwaves:
Ovens or Hot Cases
PAGE 26
REPORT
COMPARATIVE TEST
Creamy Delicacies
Comparative test of 9 brands of Ice creams
& 2 desserts brings you a comprehensive
report.
Wool:
All you wanted
to know!
PAGE 29
HEALTH
Bt Brinjal:
Temporary Relief
PAGE 11
Beware of GM food
PAGE 19
USER TEST
Antibacterial Soap
No Protection
Health
Womanly
Confusion
PAGE 15
PRODUCT REVIEW
PAGE 32
FINANCE
REPORT
PAGE 34
World Consumer
Rights Day
Special Report
PAGE 24
Legal File
PAGE 37
READERS PAGE
PAGE 40
Editorial
Amrita Dalela
Keertana Sharma
Arun Sagar
Archana Kumari
Technical
H Wadhwa
KC Choudhary
Mohd. Azim Khan
Sheeba Parveen
ACCOUNTS
Monender Singh
Sanjay Kumar
Legal
HK Awasthi
Deepa Monappan
Marketing
Pranay Sheth
Ramanjeet Kaur
Ashu Bhagat
Dinesh Kumar
Ashutosh Massey
ManagerBraille
Dipendra Manocha
Printed at Pearl Printers, B-186, Okhla Industrial Area Phase I, New Delhi-110020
For Gifts & Subscription-related enquiries, contact:
subscription@consumer-voice.org
For legal queries: legal@consumer-voice.org
Editors note: Consumer VOICE does not accept any corporate advertisements
or advertorials for the magazine. This has been the magazines policy since the
first issue was published in 1997 and it keeps our reportage unbiased and nonpartisan. Consumer VOICE regularly publishes laboratory results of product
tests. These products are purchased from the retail market before being sent to
an independent NABL-accredited laboratory for testing.
Consumer voice
March 2010
Editor's Mailbox
Bank Charges
I have the following queries:
1. Schedule Bank (icici/hdfc etc) are charging heavy
bank charges towards their customer such as Quarterly
Average balance Rs. 750/- cheque return Rs.350/- plus
Service tax. Are these charges reasonable?
2. Sweet seller sell their sweets @ Rs.300/400 per
kg and they pack 1 kg sweets in containers, which
cost between Rs. 5 to 7 Rs. and weigh around 40 to
50 gms. Sellers weigh these along with the sweets,
which means inflated charges for the consumer. Is this
justified?
Raj Prakash Gupta
Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar (U.P.)
Editor responds
Dear Mr. Gupta,
It is our constant endeavour to educate consumers about their
rights and responsibilities, and we have learnt that it is a two way
process. It is as important for consumers to know their rights as it is
to be alert about their responsibilities. I consulted our legal desk to
address your queries and this is what they came up with:
In response to the 1st query, as per RBI Guidelines, the banks have
been given discretion to fix their charges according to the quality of
service given to customer, and there is nothing that you or I could
do in regard to this.
Query 2- As per Rule 11 of the Standards of Weights and Measures
(Packaged Commodity) Rules 1977 in declaring the net quantity of
the Commodity contained in a package, the weight of wrappers
and materials other than the commodity shall be excluded, hence
it is for the consumer to insist that the shopkeeper should weigh
the sweets box separately before weighing sweets. Therefore it is
clear that here consumer action is required and many a times it is
for us as consumers to see that the market follows the rules set
for it, just as it is for consumers to follow the rules that are
meant for them.
March 2010
Consumer voice
Editorial
The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing
which stands in the way... William Blake
I travel along certain routes, everyday, on my way to office. I am familiar with trees that
line the streets and their flowering and fruiting seasons and the birds that nest on electric
poles or the stray moth or butterfly that hovers, even at peak traffic time during spring,
on the Gulmohar or the Amaltaas. Over the years all of us have been witness to mass
butchering of trees, vanishing fields and disappearing cattle, but the one that turned my
stomach last week, was the spectacle of an avenue of mutilated and murdered Neem trees,
with a girth of at least 6 to 8 feet. They lay decimated while people were busy chopping and
cutting, tying and bundling the wood. The wealth of green Neem leaves lay squandered on the road, where the
rushing roadside traffic crushed them.
Ecological Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, tells the story of Sher, a tiny village in Tibet, which has survived
for a thousand years. It is true sustainability, when a village can survive that long in its ecosystem, despite its
precarious location on a narrow shelf along a steep mountainside. This village gets just three inches of precipitation
a year, of which, every drop is gathered into a traditional irrigation system. Annual temperatures average near
freezing and in winter the mercury can dip further. Locally spun and woven wool from the local sheeps extra-thick
coat makes clothes and blankets that help villagers get through the excruciatingly cold winters.
The stone-and-wattle houses need to be repaired, and willow trees planted along the irrigation canals provide
the roofing. Whenever a branch is cut for roofing, a new one is grafted to the tree. A willow tree lasts around
four hundred years, and when one dies a new one is planted. Human waste is recycled as fertilizer for herbs,
vegetables, and fields of barley or the local staple, tsampa. Root vegetables are stored for the winter, as in many
hilly regions of India.
Goleman thinks of the brand of wisdom that has kept that tiny Himalayan village alive for these centuries as
ecological intelligence, Ecological intelligence lets us apply what we learn about how human activity impinges on
ecosystems so as to do less harm and to live sustainably in our niche these days the entire planet.
Modern life diminishes such skills and wisdom. The routines of our daily lives are completely disconnected
from their adverse impacts on the world around us. Yet at the same time the global reach of industry and
commerce means that the impacts of how we shop and live extend to the far corners of the planet. Consumption
today, destroys natural resources at a rate that far exceeds our planets carrying capacity.
The threats surrounding us demand that we hone a new sensibility and the capacity to recognize the hidden
web of connections between human activity and natures systems. This awakening must result in a collective eye
opening, a shift in our most basic assumptions and perceptions, one that will drive changes in commerce and
industry as well as in our individual actions and behaviours.
The Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner reinvented the way we think about IQ by identifying several other
varieties of intelligence besides the ones that help us to survive in a competitive world. These other intelligences
allow us to collectively adapt to the challenges we face as a species.
Modern technologies and our dependence on a world supported by them have blunted our survival skills and
destroyed the networks of dependence, created through generations of local wisdom that lets native peoples
find ways to live in harmony with their part of the planet. Collaboration and the exchange of information are vital
to amassing the essential ecological insights and necessary database that may allow us to act for the greater
good.
When it comes to our collective ecological goals, the rules, according to Goleman might boil down to:
Knowing your impacts, favouring improvements and sharing what you learn.
Ecological intelligence today must translate to an awareness of the true consequences of what we do and
buy, and then help all of us make conscientiously balanced choices, and to share what we learn.
The shared nature of ecological intelligence makes it synergistic with social intelligence, which gives us the
capacity to coordinate and harmonize our efforts. We have to acquire a new sensitivity to an unfamiliar range of
threats and learn what to do about them. Thats where ecological intelligence enters the picture.
If each of us follows those three simple rules, then together we might create a force that improves the future
for all humanity. Signs of this shift in collective consciousness are amply visible in the global efforts towards
exploring how to evolve sustainable approaches to consumption.
March 2010
(Roopa Vajpeyi)
Editor
Consumer voice
Comparative Test
Microwaves
Today no urban kitchen is considered complete without a microwave oven. A convenient gadget
to heat or re-heat food in a hurry or make instant snacks like popcorn etc. Working urban
women find microwave ovens very handy. However, microwaves can cause safety concerns like
sparking, short-circuits etc. Health concerns like radiation leakage also nag consumer minds. Our
test of 11 brands of microwave ovens brings you a complete report.
March 2010
Consumer voice
Overall Score, %
81.32
81.23
MNC
81.03
4. SAMSUNG CE 1031L
MNC
78.85
78.70
6. ELECTROLUX EM25EC85 SL
MNC
77.85
77.47
8. LG MC 7688 DP
MNC
77.03
MNC
76.67
MNC
76.48
MNC
75.15
Comparative Test
Capacity
v/s
Usable
Cavity Volume: The gross volume
for which the microwave ovens are
rated is not the volume that can be
utilized for any of the functions of
the microwave oven. It is the usable volume that is useful for consumers; which is atleast 37% less
than the rated volume. Larger the
disc/rotating disc area, higher the
usable volume of a microwave
oven. Electrolux has the largest
usable volume (63.8%) followed by
Panasonic (63.5%), LG (63.0%)
and Samsung (61.25%), as compared to others. Brands Haier, Godrej, IFB and Onida had the lowest usable cavity volume. Brands
tested declared their overall capacities were almost same, but usable
cavity volumes were not declared
by any of the brands.
Performance Tests
VOICE conducted various performance tests namely cooking
(Egg Custard, Cakes and Minuted
Meat), Uniform Heating and Defrosting primarily. The tests revealed that brands Kenstar, and
Videocon were the top performers. IFB and Onida were the lowest performers amongst the brands
tested.
Cooking Performances
Key Findings
No significant microwave leakage found, thus all are safe.
Usable cavity volume of the actual volume consumer gets to use microwave ovens
as compared to gross volume.
Microwaves are the most efficient kitchen appliance in terms of time and power
consumption as per the gas consumption.
Brand Kenstar is cheapest amongst all brands tested and is the intelligent buy in
terms of overall performance followed by Videocon.
LG performed well in this parameter followed by Haier, Godrej
kenstar and Videocon. IFB and
Panasonic were lower performers.
Cake: To evaluate heating
(baking) uniformity of a cylindrical, thick, expanding food a Cake
was cooked in the microwave ovens as per method provided in Indian standard. Godrej performed
well in this parameter followed by
Kenstar and LG. Whirlpool, Samsung, and 'Haier' were mediocre
performers.
Minuted Mutton: The test
was conducted to evaluate cooking
uniformity of thick minuted mutton. In this test, brand Electrolux
performed the best, followed by
Samsung Godrej and 'Panasonic'.
IFB and Kenstar were the lower
performers.
Defrosting: Test was conducted to evaluate the uniformity
of defrosting of a thick food item
(minced meat). Brands LG, Panasonic, Onida and Electrolux performed quite well respectively.
Heating Performances
The purpose of this test is to
evaluate the temperature evenness
and heating time, when the oven
is used for heating beverages, as
most of the consumers use microwave ovens for heating purpose.
They just heat their food in it. Panasonic and Kenstar performed
exceedingly well in this parameter.
Ease of Use: In terms of Convenience and Ease of use, which is
very vital for consumers for a long
lasting use of this appliance, most of
the brands were very convenient to
use & maintain except brand Haier
that was difficult as compared to
others. But brands Samsung & Panasonic were quit simple to operate
& use. Brand Onida and Panasonic
has given a colorful & comprehensive Recipe cooking book enabling
for regular/specific cooking applications especially Onida for Indian
foods.
Input Power: Input power is
the power drawn by an electrical
appliance for its normal operation
for which it is designed & rated. Input Power was measured in microwave, grill and convection modes
where most of the brands didnt
meet these requirements ( 10%
of declared value). LG performed
highest among the brands tested
followed by Whirlpool and Godrej.
Consumer voice
March 2010
Comparative Test
Radiation Hazards
Microwave ovens should be so
designed that excessive microwave
leakage is prevented. The microwave leakage should not exceed 5
mW/cm2.
All the brands passed this important safety test. Kenstar, Videocon,
Panasonic, Onida, Electrolux, Godrej
and Whirlpool were found safest to
use. There was minor leakage in LG
and Haier but within limits.
Power Output: In terms of power output Videocon and Onida have
performed at par/very close to their
rated power. Whirlpool was lowest
among all, in terms of power output.
March 2010
Consumer voice
Cake test
gave the higher efficiency as compared to others and with Electrolux
(44.66%) and Whirlpool (45.7%)
gave lower efficiency among all the
brands tested.
Endurance Test: The door
system, hinges, microwave seals
and other associated parts, should
withstand wear as expected in normal use. Compliance was checked
by subjecting the door system to
a total of 10,000 cycles. All microwaves passed in this test.
Other Tests: The compliance was checked for other safety
tests i.e. protection against electric
shocks, electrical strength, Stability
and Mechanical hazards where all
the brands passed. However, leakage current was higher in Godrej,
Whirlpool, Samsung and Electrolux
microwave oven which is not good
as users may suffer shock during
operation.
The Test
The comparative testing was
done for Microwave Ovens of convention type. The testing was carried out in an independent accredited laboratory as per our finalized
test programme mainly based on
relevant Indian standard IS: 11676
and related standards. Brand tested
were mainly of 25 liters capacity or
nearest capacity available.
Comparative Test
Think before buying:
If you want to buy a new microwave oven, youve probably discovered that the range
of models and options can be confusing. What is the best size and power capacity for
your needs?
Consider the capacity according to your requirements such as family size, social pattern and the usage profile: whether you would use just for heating food, baking, or
grilling. Also consider the type of foods you would like to cook.
frequency electromagnetic radiation.
It is relatively a small box like oven
that raises the temperature of food
by subjecting it to a high-frequency
electromagnetic field.
The microwaves are absorbed
by water, fats, sugars, and certain
other molecules, in the food being
cooked whose resulting vibrations
produce heat. The heating thus
occurs inside the food, without
warming the surrounding air. This
process greatly reduces cooking
time. Baking and other tasks that
may require an hour or more in a
conventional oven, can be completed
in minutes in a microwave oven.
There are three basic types of
microwave oven available in the
market:
1. Standard: These heat only
with microwaves and can be used
for all sorts of everyday tasks such
as defrosting, reheating and general
cooking.
2. Microwave with a Grill:
This is a microwave with a grilling
option, which allows browning
and crisping of the food after its
cooked.
Microwave Radiation
Leakage: Myth or Reality
Our rigorous testing has
established that there was no
major microwave radiation leakages
found before, during and after the
various performance tests. Also on
completion of 10000 times opening
& closings of oven door during
endurance, test there was no
radiation leakage thus all qualify to
be safe for in-house kitchen usage
even for over 6-10 years of regular
use.
Depending on the model you
buy, a microwave oven can:
Brown, roast, and grill foods
like a conventional oven
Prepare specific recipes using a
pre-programmed touch keypad
Safety Precautions
1. Look for Microwave specific
cookware.
2. Never use metal
trimmed utensils
microwave oven.
March 2010
3. Combination: This is a
normal oven, which heats with
microwaves, also by convection
(Convection - heat is supplied
by an electric element and a fan
that circulates heated air around
the food, just as in an ordinary
convection oven).
or metal
in your
Consumer voice
10
Consumer voice
28
28
28
25
25
25
26
25
25
25
Videocon
Panasonic
Samsung
Onida
Electrolux
Godrej
LG
Whirlpool
IFB
Haier
9500/8900
11900/10600
10000/9700
10490/9500
9490/9200
10990/8000
9490/9300
10990/9800
15990/14500
8290/8000
9990/8000
MRP./Retail
Price, Rs.
6.2
6.1
6.8
5.9
6.3
6.7
6.1
6.1
Packaging,
Marking &
Finish
4.47
4.67
4.17
4.04
4.68
4.5
4.36
4.5
4.47
4.62
Ease
of
use &
Dimensions
2.0
2.12
2.24
2.52
2.0
2.72
2.16
2.50
2.68
2.32
2.52
Usable
cavity volume*
1.43
1.64
1.63
1.83
1.81
1.56
1.62
1.64
1.53
1.71
1.47
Noise
level
4.32
5.6
3.51
5.8
Radiation
leakage;
Radio
& TV
Interfere
12.14
12.27
12.69
12.78
13.12
12.27
13.02
13.03
12.94
13.05
12.43
16
Microwave
power
output;
Input
&
Standby
power
4.06
5.69
3.5
5.36
3.2
3.7
5.8
3.63
5.08
5.44
5.47
Protection
against
electric
shock; IR
& Leakage
Current
at OT, IR
& Electric
Strength
2.29
2.67
2.35
2.38
2.38
2.63
2.55
2.04
2.58
2.23
2.77
Temp.
rise &
Moisture
resistance
Endurance;
Stability &
Mech.
Hazard
2.79
3.06
2.74
2.86
2.90
2.67
3.15
3.10
3.02
3.77
2.98
Efficiency
8.66
5.96
8.22
7.26
7.47
7.93
6.01
9.27
7.75
9.11
8.97
12
Uniform
heating
2.65
3.75
3.45
2.73
2.20
3.27
3.61
3.40
3.82
3.59
3.80
Heating
13.58
12.69
13.10
14.24
14.55
14.18
13.52
12.94
13.29
13.60
13.83
18
Cooking
, 71-90- Good
, 51-70- Average
, 31-50- Poor
, upto 30 Very Poor
Rating: >90 Very good
Note: The above scores are based on the actual performance w.r.t. assigned weightage.
*The usable cavity volume was the actual optimum usable space of the rotating glass disc that was considered for evaluation.
Cooking performances were conducted on 3 types of foods namely Egg Custard, Cake and minced Meat to judge
various defined merits/demerits.
Uniform Heating (Single square tank, Double square tank & Multiple cups test) was conducted in square tank setup to measure & verify temperature differences
and uniformity of heating within a liquid load.
Heating performance was to judge & evaluate the temperature evenness while heating the liquids.
25
Capacity ,
liters
Kenstar
Weightage,%
Brands
Parameters
March 2010
3.36
3.16
3.48
3.64
3.36
3.52
3.60
3.00
3.64
2.84
3.36
Defrost
74.75
76.48
76.67
77.15
77.47
77.85
78.70
78.85
81.03
81.23
81.32
100
Overall
score,
%
Comparative Test
Comparative Test
Creamy
Delicacies
I
ce cream is an enormously popular food. These are actually purchased based on consumers preferences, choices and needs. Consumer
VOICE chooses family pack size of
about 1 litre for comparative testing.
To make people aware about the ice
creams, Consumer VOICE took 11
brands of the most popular flavour,
i.e. Vanilla. For evaluation of these
brands based on National Standards, other consumer expectations
and inherent substances normally
found in its raw material, we finalized the test programme considering various key parameters. The Ice
cream brands were gone through
the microbiological and sensory
tests to judge the consumer acceptability of product.
The microbiological parameters
covered pathogenic and other bacterial contamination tests, which
were conducted to judge the quality of ice cream in term of microbial safety. It has been found that 3
brandsNirulas, Vadilal and Verka could not qualify to be fully acceptable from microbiological safety
point of view.
March 2010
Consumer voice
11
Comparative Test
for consumption. Brands Nirulas,
Vadilal and Verka are advised to
go for preventive steps to minimize
microbial contaminants to take care
of their production and supply chain
to avoid recurrence and thus care
for human safety.
The Difference
Ice cream is a frozen dairy product prepared by suitable blending and processing
of cream and other dairy products together
with sugar and flavour, with or without
stabilizers or colour, and with the incorporation of air during the freezing process.
Frozen Dessert means the product obtained by freezing a pasteurized mix prepared with milk fat and edible vegetable
oils & fats having a melting point of not
more than 37oC in combination.
March 2010
Ice Creams
Rank
Amul
Metro
Heritage
Mother Dairy
MTR
Verka
Cream Bell
Baskin Robbins
Nirulas
Frozen Desserts
Kwality Walls
Vadilal
12
Consumer voice
Comparative Test
count more than the limit thus not
safe for consumption.
Key Findings
Brand 'Amul' topped the overall test and is
good to buy for consumers.
Brand Amul and MTR were found excellent in sensory panel test.
Brand Amul gave max amount of IceCream in terms of volume by weight i.e. 620
gms/ltr. All the other remaining brands are below 600 gms/ltr.
All the brands were free from Saccharine & vegetable fat.
All the brands were free from pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus,
Salmonella, Shigella, Listeria monocytogens. But the brands Nirulas, Vadilal
and Verka had Anaerobic spore count and Coliform count more than the maximum permissible limit thus not safe for consumption.
Brands Baskin Robbins, Kwality Walls and Heritage were found underweight.
Brand Cream Bell, Nirulas, Vadilal Verka and 'Mother Dairy' were found
with higher yeast & mould count.
Brand Cream Bell and 'Nirula's' were found with standard plate count higher
than the maximum limit.
Except brands Baskin Robbins and Nirulas no other brand was found with
added synthetic colour.
As per the Indian Standard total plate count in ice cream should
not be more than 2.5x105. Brand
Cream Bell and Nirulas did not
meet the requirement and found
with total plate count more than
the maximum limit.
Yeast and Mould Count:
Brands Cream Bell, Nirulas, Vadilal, Verka and 'Mother Dairy' were
found with highest yeast and mould
count, which should be absent.
Brand Baskin Robbins had the best packing and got highest weightage.
Brand MTR was packed with a lowest quality of packing material among all the
brands tested.
Consumer voice
13
March 2010
14
Consumer voice
1
1
1
1
4
1
16
18
100
1
1
1
1
3.14
1
15.86
16.31
87.78
99/1008
9.82
2.6
4.5
6.33
9.02
2.42
6.96
6.16
1.91
4.57
2
Amul
1
1
1
1
3.61
1
15.16
15.05
85.84
58/525
11.04
2.6
4.5
5.35
8.9
2.41
6.95
7.14
1.65
4.52
2
Metro
1
1
1
1
3.44
1
15.5
15.14
85.54
90/650
13.84
2.6
4.5
2.57
10.86
2.7
5.25
7.48
1.84
5.66
2
Heritage
1
1
1
1
2.8
1
13.3
15.44
84.89
99/657
15.06
2.6
4.5
4.61
9.84
2.54
7.03
7.46
1.65
5.12
2
Mother
Dairy
1
1
1
1
3.6
1
15.2
16.45
84.45
70/525
13.33
2.5
4.5
4.64
8.58
2.36
5.76
6.3
1.84
4.72
2
MTR
1
1
1
1
3.14
1
12.3
15.16
82.35
60/540
11.11
2.6
4.5
5.8
9.26
2.46
6.64
6.38
1.82
4.29
2
Verka
1
1
1
1
3
1
11.6
15.77
81.45
99/485
20.41
2.8
4
5.22
9.44
2.48
6.39
6.7
1.3
4.75
2
Cream
Bell
Starch
Vegetable Fat
Gelatin
Trans Fat
Cholesterol
Phosphatase Test
Microbiological Tests**
Sensory Panel Tests*
Overall Score
Saccharin
Wt.%
3
5
7
12
3
8
8
2
6
2
Brand
Ice Cream
1
1
1
1
3.2
1
15.93
14.79
81.23
3416/2100
162.66
2.9
4
3.86
8.94
2.41
6.59
3.24
1.61
5.82
1.94
Baskin
Robbins
1
1
1
1
3.33
1
9.5
14.67
77.79
125/263
47.52
2.9
4.5
5.43
9.4
2.48
6.63
4.49
1.91
4.63
1.92
Nirulas
MRP, Rs./Weight, gm
Unit value per 100 gm, Rs
Packing
Marking
Physico-chemical
Net Weight/Volume
Total Solids
Moisture
Total Fat
Protein
Acidity
Sucrose
Synthetic Colour
Parameters
March 2010
1
1
1
1
3.8
1
16
14.26
81.39
99/600
16.5
2.6
4.5
3.75
8.46
1.95
7.66
4.3
1.3
4.81
2
Kwality
Walls
1
1
1
1
3.62
1
10.2
14.26
77.64
80/390
20.51
2.6
4
4.62
8.52
2.35
5.22
6.68
1.91
5.66
2
Vadilal
Frozen Dessert
Comparative Test
User Test
Antibacterial Soap
No Protection
Antibacterial Soap No
Protection from Swine Flu
The ingredients in antibacterial
soaps triclosan or triclocarban
have some serious toxicity concerns.
These chemicals pollute rivers and
streams, are toxic to wildlife, can
enter and accumulate in peoples
bodies, and disrupt hormone systems
(triclosan interferes with thyroid
hormone, whereas triclocarban has
a testosterone-like effect).
Consumer voice
15
March 2010
User Test
hands frequently with regular
soap and water, and do use hand
sanitizers when youre not near a
sink!
Its useful to remember that
triclosan, like other pesticides, is a
poison. Its poisonous to bacteria.
We may be far removed from
bacteria, way up in the evolutionary
branches of life, but the common
chemistry of living things means
that chemicals that affect one form
of life often affect others too.
Why is triclosan used so widely?
People buy it. And marketers sell
it. The markets worth is estimated
at $1 billion in the US alone and
now the increasing popularity of
this product amongst consumers
can mean more earnings for the
industry by putting consumer and
environmental health at risk.
Broad-spectrum antiseptics like
alcohol kill bacteria in a completely
different way than triclosan does.
Since alcohol kills bacteria by
physically rupturing the cell wall
and many other components, its
Whats a Concerned
consumer to Do?
Most experts agree that the best
way to prevent the transmission of
disease is to simply practice proper
hand-washing techniques with
plain soap and water. This means
washing with soap and warm water
for at least 20 seconds and drying
with a clean towel to further aid in
removing bacteria.
Hand gels/sanitizers
If water is not available, try an alcohol-based hand gel.
If used properly, these can be at least as effective as hand
washing in destroying bacteria and viruses for maximum
effectiveness of alcohol-based hand gels:
The hands must not be visibly soiled; otherwise, the
alcohol-based hand gel wont work as well.
The hand gel must contain between 60 and 70 percent
alcohol. (Look for one that also contains a moisturizer,
since alcohol can be very drying to the hands.)
March 2010
16
Consumer voice
How We Tested?
We did a detailed survey of the
most-sold and most-used antibacterial liquid hand washes
easily available in the market.
We chose 8 brands most-sold,
and easily available in the Indian
market for our user tests.
We distributed samples of
different liquid hand washes to
different users and asked them
to compare.
Users were also provided with a
questionnaire.
User Test
Consumer Observation
Godrej Protekt: provides a choice in original,
blossom and citrus types, although ingredients
listed are the same and fragrance is not specified
except in its name on front label. Packaging looks
the same except in the colour of the plastic bottles.
liquid anti
purchased 8
E
IC
O
V
er
put them to
Consum
washes and
nd
g
ha
al
ri
te
bac
an interestin
s. There is
test by user hand washes available
uid
the
array of liq
found that
t. We have
ke
the
ar
m
ng
e
ri
th
in
e ente
r family ar
e.
products fo
al
sc
t on a large
Indian marke
Good Look: It has a transparent bottle and liquid but the colour is a turquoise
blue, which is the same as those of toilet cleaners, hence a little off putting for
most consumers. The packaging or the bottle shape is also a little inconvenient, as it
requires a lot of space on the hand basin. Calls itself Good Look but doesnt live
up to its name. The name is also not perceived to be appropriate to its function.
Dettol: bottle says Original, though other variations, if any are not easily available.
It also says 10 times better but doesnt specify than what. Dettol also has the
provision for the refill pack. This brand is seen as one of the trusted brand.
Lifebuoy: Like dettol, Lifebuoy is perceived as an old trusted brand of products.
It retains its colour range of red and white (other fragrances are available in other
colours). Thus, providing continuity of association in consumer minds. It has as
attractive differently shaped bottle as compared to most others. Also has provision
for a refill.
Savlon: Simple, no nonsense bottle claims to be just a "liquid handwash" for gentle
protection. Does not list any parabens. Also seen as a trusted brand.
Externa: Handwash claims to provide "germ defense" with triclo-activities, which
most consumers are not familiar with. Also, includes a cautionary note, unlike most
brands.
Palmolive: Palmolive has a fragrance similar to their shaving gel, which did not
find easy acceptance with female users. It has a transparent, attractive bottle with
transparent liquid, perceived by some users to be preferable to the creamy type.
Many consumers are similarly attracted to transparent cake soaps.
Consumer voice
March 2010
Santoor: Experiments with the bottle design and shape, but that does not
seem to add to its profile. Most consumers chose to discard it prior to
use and wanted brands that they are more familiar with in the
antibacterial range.
17
User Test
Antibacterial Liquid Handwash at a Glance
Price
(Rs.)
Label Claim
Comments
55
10 times better
protection against a
wide range of germs
200ml
45
Proven protection
from germs with
goodness Neem &
lemongrass
Jhonson &
Jhonson Savlon
Liquid Handwash
250ml
55
Gentle protection
Skin becomes soft after use, fresh fragrance, sufficient lather, easy to apply,
easy wash off, very good in using.
Externa Hand
Wash
250ml
65
Wipro Santoor
Soft Hand Wash
250ml
55
Gentle moisturizing,
Germ protection,
Maintain skin pH
balance
Godrej Protekt
Hand Wash
250ml
55
55
Remove germs
85
S.No.
Name
Dettol Original
Liquid Hand
Wash
Lifebuoy Hand
Wash Care
Weight
250ml
250ml
500ml
March 2010
Safety
Excellent
Health
Very Good
18
Consumer voice
Good
Average
Poor
Rating
Health
Bt Brinjal:
Temporary Relief
The questions about GM technology that are relevant to consumer safety, whether they be
farmers or average consumers are the concern of consumer organizations like VOICE. The very
first one of these is: Are genetically modified crops safe to consume , especially on a daily basis?
Are the current sources of research available for ready reference about the viability of GM foods,
trustworthy? In the absence of labelling how are consumers to choose between GM and the
indigenous varieties? Is it even possible to label hundreds of varieties of seasonal vegetables
available in the unorganized sector? and the most vital one: why brinjal of all the vegetables,
which is not only indigenous to India but currently, around 2500 varieties are grown across the
country. Brinjal is second only to the potato in terms of the total quantity produced.
What is Bt Brinjal?
Bt Brinjal is created by inserting
a gene from bacteria into Brinjal.
Controversy of Bt Brinjal:
March 2010
Consumer voice
19
Health
It is my duty to adopt a caunous, precaunonary principlebased approach and impose a
moratorium on the release of
Bt-brinjal, till such time independent scientific studies establish, to the satisfaction of both
the public and professionals,
the safety of the product from
the point of view of its longterm impact on human health
and environment, including the
rich genetic wealth existing in
brinjal in our country.
March 2010
20
Consumer voice
Contents
an
d
su
m
on
n
Co
su
me
in
Jo
t
lane
Exer
cis
e
um
s
on
d Respon
hts an
sib
g
i
ilit
R
ies
er
p
the
ve
sa
yo
ur
C
er
VO
IC
E to
st
u
S
become a
le
b
a
ain
Rs. 1,000 or
dated
Bank
is enclosed
March 2010
City
Phone
E-mail
Cut, Fill and Enclose Draft/Cheque & post to:
Consumer VOICE, 441, Jangpura, Mathura Road, New Delhi-110014, e-mail: editorial@consumer-voice.org
Consumer voice
* All contributions to VOICE are exempt under Sec. 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961.
21
Product Review
Oil Tradition
Now
In Shampoo
But will it work?
Find out...
Taking the Indian tradition of oiling hair before shampooing or washing them, Garnier
oil+shampoo aim to capture the Indian womans imagination. When Consumer VOICE decided
to focus on this product, there was much enthusiasm among its young workforce of working
women, overloaded, always in a hurry, but wanting to keep with trends and wanting to look
their best all day long. Hair is a big feminine issue, and most of us are familiar with bad
hair days. Frequent washing is however, perceived to cause hair damage, especially when not
preceded with the oil routine. The Garnier Fructis oil+shampoo appears to be a heaven sent
solution to hair woes. The Indian women also battles between the allure of long hair and short
manageable hair. Long hair requires complicated care routines and such a product was needed.
But is it going to be a successour story will tell.
March 2010
22
Consumer voice
ments using oil provide deep conditioning and help cleanse micro
dust particles that cause dandruff,
irritation, infections, and even
certain types of alopecia or hair
loss. Also, applying oil to the scalp
promotes relaxation, a process
which in itself is extremely important for healthy hair.
http://feelgoodstyle.com/2008
/08/12/beauty-secrets-from-indiaoiling-your-hair/
Product Review
OIL Profile of Oil+ Shampoo
Avocado Oil: is a nourishing oil for the skin and hair. Avocado Oil is
said to be rich in essential and trace minerals and Vitamin A. Its properties and texture make it especially suitable for use in hair care. Due
to its aroma and thick, oily consistency, Avocado Oil is typically used
at a low ratio (highly diluted) in blends and formulations.
Source: http://www.aromaweb.com/vegetableoils/avocadooil.asp
Olive Oil: is routinely for hair and skin care. It is a favorite among all
the health conscious people. It has been widely used in soaps making
them mild and skin friendly. The customer is spoiled for choice, but the
labels on olive oil bottles can be quite confusing: extra virgin, virgin, 100 per cent olive oil, refined olive oil , pomace olive oil, and
so on. Virgin olive oils come only from the olive, by way of mechanical
or other physical means, under thermal conditions that do not alter
the oil in any way. Extra-virgin olive oil is most expensive and flavourful and is the highest quality of olive oil. Olive-Pomace oil come from
the ground flesh and pits left after pressing, and processing involves
use of solvents and other physical methods. The oil can be crude or
refined. The stuff marketed as Olive Pomace Oil is actually a blend of
refined olive pomace oil and virgin oils.
Source: http://beta.thehindu.com/life-and-style/Food/article109588.
ece
Shea Butter: lubricates and moisturizes the skin and hair, and improves elasticity while greatly reducing years of skin and hair damage.
The Shea Butter oils penetrate quickly, and are beneficial for hair,
scalp and skin.
Source: http://www.healthlifeline.com/servlet/the-Shea-Butter-Oil/
Categories
oil and massaging into your scalp
is beneficial to the health of your
hair. Scientifically, the purpose for
this practice is increasing the flow
of blood to the roots of your hair.
After using these oils, a wait of
User Comments
For real conditioning by oil massage, wrap a moist, women towel around your hair
for quick results. Alternatively, you can also keep the oil on doing the right before
the wash. Taking care of your hair pays rich dividends.
All the users felt that its packaging is very attractive, it has very
good fragrance and is easy to apply
and use.
Consumer voice
23
March 2010
Rub oil on the roots of your hair. it helps to improve blood circulation and make
hair silky and strong.
Special Report
Indian Consumer!
Bargaining:
Worry about being cheated,
who us? Thats because we
dont see bargaining only as a
legitimate means of lowering prices.
We see it as a sport. So we will
not move an inch from the 'thela
wala' even if the sun is blazing
down at 53 degrees. We want that
30 paise off our kilo of apples and
that is that. We also get to hear the
music of several dialects into the
bargain!
March 2010
Were Child-friendly:
Aside from the fact that we love
children so that were soon going
to produce enough to populate the
entire world, everything in our lives
is geared towards their happiness.
So much so that our parents never
want us to leave home.
24
Consumer voice
Raddiwalas:
When people start making
noises about our carbon credits
ours, for heavens sake, when we
are the most frugal people on this
Special Report
Jugaad:
Nothing in India need only be
what it was originally meant to
be. A motorcycle can be attached
to a cart and become a baelgaadi, a tangle of wires could
become a satellite dish. We find
solutions to everyday problems
without having to call in the
experts, who we cannot afford in
any case!
Sustainability is Our Second
Name:
When the whole world is
looking for sustainable solutions to
todays problems, weve access to
our traditional knowledge where
it is possible to find an answer to
the most chaotic of post modern
situations.
Monsoon Mania:
planet are always trying not only
to save but also to re-cycle, re-use,
repair and re-invent everything.
India is a country where recycling
has always been a business, thanks
to the raddiwala.
With apologies to
Hindustan times Brunch
Consumer voice
25
March 2010
Report
Of the total 134 million TV
households in the country,
50% are in the rural areas,
as per the figures released
by television audience
measurement agency TAM
Media Research. Not just
that, 30% of the 70 million
TV households in rural
India do not have access to
cable and satellite (C&S) TV.
The data further identifies
two trends. One, the market
for digital TV is bigger in
March 2010
26
Consumer voice
Report
based independent provider of
information pertaining to the media
and entertainment sector, the
combined loss of the entire DTH
industry in 200809 stood at $450
million.
Going Rural
Consumer voice
27
March 2010
Price Wars
March 2010
Report
Creating Differentiators
28
Consumer voice
Report
Wool
all you wanted
to know!
What is Wool?
Wool is a fibre, which comes
from domesticated sheep. After it is
collected, the fibre can be dyed as
Consumer voice
29
March 2010
Come winter and our markets are full of winter range of clothes,
specially woollen brands. There is a large variety available but
the consumer must know some basic facts about wool, before
investing in costly woollens. This fabric is very resistant to
wrinkling. It is improved by moisture and is well known for its
warmth. The hilly areas of the country have a rich collection
of woollen textiles. Among the wool products, Pashmina and
embroidered shawls of Kashmir are famous examples of the
woollen textile Industry. The Pashmina shawls and stoles
are also popular abroad because of the soft texture and the
embroidery or Sozni work done on them using woollen threads.
Amritsar and Ludhiana are the major states of Punjab famous
for their woollen blankets.
Report
Wool in Indian History
Sheep rearing, spinning and
weaving of wool has always been a
part of Indian life. The weaving and
bleaching of wool was traditionally
tended by shepherds and wool is
regarded as ceremonially pure for
performing religious functions.The
ancient civilization of the Indus
Valley revealed that our ancestors
were well versed in the art of wool
weaving, spinning, felting and
tailoring.
Source:http://www.wti.org.in/current-news/100111_shahtoosh_trader_convicted.html
March 2010
Crease-resistance
Easy care
Non-static
Colourfast
30
Consumer voice
Report
Dos
Always follow the instructions
for washing given on the label.
Use only a
detergent.
mild
soap
or
Hang winter coats and suits on hangers, and then store them in
garment bags. If hanging is not possible, lay the garments flat
in an area that is safe from water and preferably away from a
carpet, which may contain pesky carpet beetles.
Wrap the woollen clothes between newspapers which will help
absorb all residual moisture.
Put the traditional neem leaves and dried red chillies beneath
the container.
of
and
quality
Excellence:
March 2010
Consumer voice
31
Health
Womanly Confusion
Sift Fact From Fiction
March 2010
32
Consumer voice
times become even fatter on lowfat foods. Remember low fat is not
necessarily low calorie food. You
can even gain weight if you eat low
fat versions of your favourite high
fat foods. Many diet surveys have
Consumer voice
33
March 2010
Fact: You can gain health benefits from daily physical activities
without even working up a sweat
or going to the gym. Scientific evidence has concluded that 30 min-
Health
Finance
March 2010
34
Consumer voice
Finance
been around costs and innovation
that regulation raises costs and
crushes innovation. Again good in
textbooks and big firm funded conferences, but we know that innovation on Wall Street led to products
that took a legal and advanced
math degree to decifer, which need
not have been bad if the products
had worked. We know that the
only people they worked for were
the bankers and the top management of the Wall Street firms and
not the consumers or employees
both paid. Before the innovation
argument is used against tighter
regulation in India, there needs
to be discussion on what this innovation means and what its aim
is. Innovation in life insurance polices in India is mainly in designing
products that hide costs and this
innovation will lead to a blowout,
creating deep fissures in trust people have in insurance. We can live
without such innovation.
Consumer voice
35
March 2010
Customer Satisfaction of
& Domestic
Airlines-2010
Study Report
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Govt. of India has sponsored a VOICE Society study on the Assessment of
Quality of Service and Customer Satisfaction in Domestic Airlines Sector under "JAGO GRAHAK JAGO" Campaign.
Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India, extended support to this venture.
The study is based on the perceptions of domestic airlines travellers (consumers) interviewed on the quality
of service provided by different domestic airline operators in India. We chose nine domestic airlines who play a
major role in the air traffic movement in India.
Interviewed passengers had taken 34,936 flights in the last one year.
Average number of flights taken by each respondent has been estimated at
nearly 9.4 flights in one year with a maximum of 135 flights.
3104 respondents, who had taken 21507 flights in one year, mostly travel for
business purposes.
The average number of flights per person has an estimated range of 7 flights
with maximum of 100 flights in one year.
Every 10th respondent who travelled in the last one year had some
problem with the airline services
Airline passengers are demanding a lot.
Airline operators are also responsive in terms of redressing complaints of their clients.
Over 9 out of 10 complaints received by the airline operators were addressed
and 86% of complainants reported their problem was completely solved.
Problems:
Improper handling of the baggage.
Loss of baggage.
Respondents revealed that they do not get their money refunded after their
flights cancellation.
Delay in refund of money.
Money deducted twice while booking the tickets.
Frequent flyers have many more tales to tell. Read Consumer VOICE April 2010 issue for information on a
blurred line between LCCs & FSCs!! Airlines will also be ranked based on consumer satisfaction parameters.
Legal File
1. Place of Publication: 441 (Basement), Jungpura, Mathura Road, New Delhi-110 014
Nationality: Indian
Nationality: Indian
I, Dr KL Madhok hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my
knowledge and belief.
S/d.
Dr KL Madhok
Signature of Publisher
Nationality: Indian
Consumer voice
March 2010
37
Legal File
All is
Well?
Dr. Premlata
March 2010
Achievements
Actually, there is no reason for
consumers to worry because things
are going really well for consumers
at this time. Since the inception
of the welfare law, 3 amend we
could get three amendments done
to the Consumer Protection Act
and each time it moved a step
forward towards achieving more.
With special features added to the
Act by Amendment 1991, Forum
could function in the absence
of one member also. In another
amendment, in 1993, apart from
defect in goods, for the first time,
services were also brought under
the purview of Consumer Forums,
meaning thereby that service
provider could be held responsible
for deficiency in services. Numbers
of services were defined and
housing, education, electricity,
38
Consumer voice
Landmark Judgements
The obvious result was that
a lot of hue and cry was created
over the authority of the forums
amongst big business houses.
Ever since the Act has come into
force, at one hand the Apex Court
What More?
Inspite of all positive aspects
discussed above, much more
remains to be done. If we
remember the courageous steps
taken by the housewives of
Mumbai, in 1949, when they
came out on the roads to protest
against the quality of goods, we
today need to show similar zeal
for price fixation. Government is
serious about the gap between
manufacturing cost and MRP and
is working on it, several areas like
pharmacy/pricing of medicines has
been, to some extent, brought
under control but we all have to
join hands, NGOs need to play
their role.
False/Frivolous Complaints
Very little is being done to
discourage false and frivolous
complaints resulting in a huge
backlog in this area. Section 26 of
the Act is required to be brought
into action and practices of filing
complaints either for the sake of
compensation or to escape from
some other liability should be
strictly dealt with.
While dealing with the case
filed against statutary bodies,
Consumer voice
39
March 2010
Universities,
colleges
and
educational institutions appear
to be upset about interference
of Consumer Courts in their
functioning and time, and again
holding meetings, as and when
there is a case decided against their
interest by the consumer redressal
commissions. Even the Education
Ministry is in a fix as to how to
distinguish the demarcation line
between the statutary functioning
of autonomous bodies working for
Legal File
Readers Page
Net Banking Services
I had applied for net banking service 3 months before. The company
did nothing yet. I am looking for compensation by the bank for delay
to open my service. Is it possible to look forward to compensate by the
bank. Kindly help me if I could register a complaint with any Consumer
Forum/Court?
Shrikant Sadan
Uttar Pradesh
Consumer voice
March 2010
I had made full and final payment before due, with reference to statement.
I had also sent letters to withdraw my services from 1st Sept, 2007. After
many requests and reminders to withdraw all services of SBI Card with effect has been unheard and non responsive. I have been receiving mail for
outstanding dues and phone call claiming from SBI Card in recent times.
The nature of call suggests and encourages me to take the matter to legal/
regulatory authority. Kindly anticipate resolving this issue at the earliest.
40
Biswajit Nayak
Delhi
Readers Page
Complaint against builders
I have booked a flat and got the same registered in June 2008, almost after 1.5 yrs
of registration I have still not got possession of the flat. Also on registration documents the builders have not mentioned the possession date. We have been paying
interest on the money, which we have paid to the builders. We have also observed
that from last 6 months the work is not happening at the site. When we visit the
builders office they told us that they will give us the possession of the flat within
30 days but never turned up. Please guide me how can I nail down this builder and
get either the flat or appropriate compensation.
Mandar Jadhav
Maharashtra
Zulfiqar Ahmed
Tamil Nadu
Vinod Pavecha
Karnataka
Consumer voice
41
March 2010
I had booked a ticket between Bangalore and Ahmedabad for November and
apparently had to cancel the same. After cancelling I had requested them to
refund the money, they came back saying I cannot get any refund of the same
but I can book a ticket within one year for that amount. Later when I was trying
to book a ticket with the coupon number that I was provided with from GoAir.
It was also asking me for some pass code to book a ticket. I got back to GoAir
for providing me with the same. Its 3 weeks now and I am still to get reply from
them. Can you please give some insight to get this resolved?
Readers Page
I lose for your Banks fault
I have a joint bank savings account at your Salt Lake City, Kolkata. On 3rd November
2009, I had deposited a Cheque of The west Bengal Co-operative Bank. On the time
of deposit, I asked bank executive about the clearing timing of outstation cheque. He
informed me, it takes 15 days. I found that cheque has been returned due to negligence of Co-operative Bank, because they didnt endorse the cheque for the time
of honour. Co-operative Bank charged on returning, which I have to pay the drawee.
After proper presentation, Co-operative Bank doesnt credit the amount till today.
On 17th November 2009, I again deposited another Cheque of Allahabad bank. The
Co-operative Bank again doesnt credit the amount till today. I also had issued a
cheque to Deutche bank Card dated 08/12/09. But Co-operative Bank returned that
instrument and Deutche bank charged my card cheque returned + interest + late payment. Sir, in this above matter I found all the fault of Co-operative Bank. I have been
charged and caring a loss of amount. Kindly suggest.
Tanmoy Roy
West Bengal
NEW SUBSCRIBER
RENEWAL SUBSCRIBER
TERM
RATE
YOU PAY
1 year
Rs. 600/-
Rs. 600/-
2 years
Rs. 1,200/-
Rs. 1,150/-
3 years
Rs. 1,800/-
Rs. 1,750/-
5 years
Rs. 3,000/-
Rs. 2,500/-
March 2010
Occupation:
Business
Service
Education
Legal
Govt. Employee
IT
Retired
Student
42
Consumer voice
Signature .....................................................