Britannia To Pay Rs 60,000 Compensation To A Consumer For Selling Underweight Biscuit Packets

Rs 60,000 compensation for a biscuit packet worth Rs 40!

Awareness is everything, right? A lot of brands take consumers for granted but with changing times, consumers are starting to notice everything - be it checking the ingredient list or measuring the claimed weight of a product.?

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Thrissur, Kerala, has ordered Britannia Industries and a nearby bakery to compensate Rs 60,000 for selling biscuit packets with substantially lower weights than stated, as reported by Bar and Bench.

How Did The Case Come To Light?

indiamart

Consumer George Thattil bought two packets of "Britannia Nutri Choice Thin Arrow Root Biscuits," each supposed to weigh 300 grams, from Chukkiri Royal Bakery. However, upon weighing, they were discovered to be 268 grams and 248 grams, respectively, significantly below the stated weight, as per the report.

Without wasting time, he lodged a complaint with the Flying Squad of Legal Metrology's Assistant Controller in Thrissur, who subsequently verified and confirmed the shortage in weight.

Following this, he lodged a complaint with the District Commission in Thrissur, aiming to halt unlawful practices and seek compensation for financial, physical, and emotional losses incurred as a result of exploitation and deceit.

Also Read:?Britannia's Story: How It Began With Just Rs 295 & Grown Into Rs 1 Trillion FMCG Giant

The Verdict Wasn’t In Favour Of Britannia And The Chukkiti Royal Bakery

agencies

The Commission, headed by President C T Sabu and members Sreeja S and Ram Mohan R, observed a considerable shortfall in the net weight of the biscuit package labeled MO1. The deficit was more than 52 grams (300-248).

Pointing out the “deceptive" practices, the bench stated, “Such a deceptive act from the part of an erring manufacturer or trader is tantamount to jeopardizing the very dignity of the consumer and his right to live a life free from exploitation or deception or any kind of unfair trade practice."

As per the report, the Commission concluded that both Britannia and the bakery had infringed upon the consumer's entitlement to be protected from exploitation and unjust trade practices, breaching the Consumer Protection Act and the Legal Metrology Act of 2009.

As a result, the District Commission instructed the "opposite parties" to compensate the complainant with Rs 50,000 for the incurred loss and an additional Rs 10,000 for the litigation expenses.?

Furthermore, the Controller of Legal Metrology of Kerala received orders to conduct a comprehensive statewide investigation and implement measures to ensure compliance with net quantity regulations for the product/packaged commodity.