Measuring Up!
Good Packaging Practices for Dairy
Products |
Federal and
state agencies have recently conducted two studies of the accuracy of net content
statements on cartons of milk. A 1997 study
found that many containers of milk sold at wholesale and retail and many cartons of milk
served in schools, universities and hospitals contained less than the amount stated on the
label. Although the individual package shortages were very small, the cumulative effect of
short-filling can be significant over time and across the industry.
Following the 1997 study, federal and state agencies worked closely with industry
members in an effort to improve compliance. A 1998 follow-up study shows that this effort
has resulted in considerable improvement in the accuracy of net content statements on
milk.
This follow-up study also shows, however, that there is still need for further
improvement in compliance levels at some dairies and packagers. When government inspectors
pull under-filled containers from sale, retailers, packagers and dairies lose. Whats
more, when these shortages affect the milk served with school breakfasts and lunches,
there can be other consequences, too.
Study Findings
In the 1998 follow-up study, weights and measures officials across the country
conducted inspections. Using procedures developed by the National Conference on Weights
and Measures (NCWM) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the
inspectors examined the accuracy of net content labeling of over 3,300 lots of milk served
in schools, universities and hospitals and sold by retailers, packagers and dairies.
The inspections, which took place over a three-week period, found considerable
improvement in the accuracy of net content labels on milk containers, compared to a year
earlier. In 1997, just 55 percent of the lots of milk passed inspection. A year later, in
the 1998 follow-up study, over 80 percent passed inspection.
Still, improvement is needed. In the 1998 follow-up study, almost one in five lots of
milk failed inspection. Results varied among states, with the failures ranging from four
percent to 50 percent of inspected lots. Results also varied widely among packagers and
dairies.
Good Quantity Control Practices
NIST Handbook 133, a guide for compliance testing of net content statements on
packaged goods, includes statistical procedures that recognize reasonable variations
permitted in "good" packaging practices. Although developed primarily for
government use, it is valuable for companies involved in packaging, distributing and
selling dairy products.
The Handbook outlines procedures for random sampling of packages from an inspection
lot. For milk, an inspection lot of gallons could include all gallons of Brand X whole
milk with the same expiration date. Using NIST procedures and specific equipment, the
packages are tested to determine whether they are over- or under-filled. Milk and juice
must be labeled by volume in units such as fluid ounces and milliliters, and yogurt and
cottage cheese are labeled by weight in units such as ounces and grams so testing is
performed using precision flasks and balances.
For the lot to pass inspection, the contents of the random sample on average must equal
or exceed the amount of product stated on the label.
Compliance
The Food and Drug Administration recently proposed revisions to the regulations
that govern the net content labeling on food packages. Based on NIST Handbook 133, the
revisions would establish procedures for ensuring regulatory uniformity nationwide.
State and local officials have primary responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of the
net content labeling of foods on a day-to-day basis. The FDA has authority to enforce the
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act for the net content labeling of foods. And the Federal
Trade Commission has authority to proceed against inaccurate net content labeling of food
as a deceptive practice.
Federal, state and local officials will coordinate their efforts to monitor the
accuracy of net content labeling of dairy products and juice, as well as other foods.
Dairies, packers and bottling plants are encouraged to examine and voluntarily reform
their packaging practices if necessary. Industry members that fail to resolve poor
manufacturing practices risk government enforcement actions resulting in fines, exclusions
from government contracts, or other mandates to correct their behavior.
For More Information
The following state and federal officials are available to answer your questions
about state requirements for net content labeling.
- The NCWM has developed a detailed set of guidelines for Good Quantity Control Practices.
To order the guidelines or a copy of NIST Handbook 133, contact:
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Office of Weights and Measures
Building 820 (Room 223)
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Tel: 301-975-4004,
Fax: 301-926-0647
- Copies of the federal/state study are available from NIST at the address above, and the
FTC:
Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
Washington, DC 20580;
Tel: (202) FTC-HELP (382-4357)
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture can answer your questions about school meal programs.
Contact:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Consumer Service
Child Nutrition Division
3101 Park Center One, Room 1008
Alexandria, VA 22302-1500
Tel: 703-305-2590
- To learn more about the FDAs proposed rulemaking on net content labeling, contact:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Office of Food Labeling
200 C Street, SW (HFS 158)
Washington, DC 20204
Tel: 202-205-5099
- To learn about industry sponsored training efforts, contact:
Carey P. Frye, Vice President
International Dairy Foods Association
1250 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-737-4332
The FTC works for the consumer to
prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and
avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get free information
on consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or
call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related
complaints into
Consumer Sentinel, a
secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law
enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
|
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION |
FOR THE CONSUMER |
1-877-FTC-HELP |
www.ftc.gov |
|
August
1998 |