The Magazine of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland

FARMERS’ MARKETS BENEFICIAL BACTERIA • MSGESB CHARGES • ESSENTIAL FATSPRESS OMBUDSMAN AND COUNCILCOMPOST BINS • MEDIUM WAVE RADIOTESTS: DIGITAL CAMERAS • PUSHCHAIRSWASHING MASHINES

APRIL2008

How much do you know aboutyour local farmers’ market?

How much do you know aboutyour local farmers’ market?

The Magazine of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland

The credit crisis in the world financial systems hasrumbled on since last summer with significantimplications for both the global economy and the

financial services sector. It has also raised questions aboutthe adequacy of regulation and consumer protectionmeasures. The immediate impact on consumers was mostevident here with the near collapse of Northern Rock and thequeues of depositors lining up to withdraw their savings bothin Ireland and the UK. This highlighted the need to increasethe level of protection for savings in the event of bank failure.The UK Government is proposing to increase the levels ofdeposit interest protection to almost €66,000. The CAI hascalled for similar enhanced protection here from the currentlevel of just €20,000.

The other major issue arising from the credit crisis relatesto the regulation of the sub-prime mortgage sector. As aresult of irresponsible lending where individuals were givenexpensive mortgages and loans which they could not afford,we have seen an increase in the number of court orders for

repossession of properties, from 134 in 2004 to 465 in2007. While not all these court actions would have resultedin individuals losing their property, some people have losttheir homes and others are trapped in a spiral of cripplingdebt and legal action. From February, sub-prime lenders willbe subject to regulation by the Financial Regulator. Whilewelcome, this action should have been taken sooner.

The upcoming revision of consumer credit legislationoffers the Government a great opportunity to reform andenhance the rights of consumers so that we addressconcerns before they become major problems. The CAI willcertainly be working hard to ensure that this happens.

James Doorley Chairperson

consumer choice APRIL 2008 EDITORIAL

CONSUMERS’ASSOCIATION OF

IRELAND (CAI)

The Council is the

policy-making body of

CAI. Members are

elected from within

CAI's membership at

the Annual General

Meeting. The current

members are:

ChairpersonJames Doorley

Vice-ChairpersonMichael Kilcoyne

Hon SecretaryAnn Woods

Hon TreasurerFrank Dawe

Minutes SecretaryDorothy Gallagher

Council MembersElaine Bolger

Peter Dargan

Richard Donohue

Mel Gannon

Diarmuid MacShane

John McMahon

Timothy Murphy

Enid O’Dowd

Emer O’Siochru

James Wims

STAFF

Chief ExecutiveDermott Jewell

Acting EditorMargaret Brady

EditorKieran Doherty

Research teamJohn Cradden

Jenny Harrow

Aisling Murtagh

Assistant to the Chief Executive

Judy Dunne

Subscription OfficerMairead Noonan

SecretarialNora Grimes

ContributorJustin Paulsen

Editorial & Contents

APRIL 2008

To independently protect, promote and represent the interests of consumers.

OUR REPORTSReports in Consumer Choice are based on marketresearch, laboratory tests or user surveys, all ofwhich are independently and scientificallyconducted. Free goods are never accepted fortesting – all samples are purchased.

The reports are produced in the main byour own Editorial staff. Some material isoccasionally drawn from other foreignindependent consumer magazines.

Because Consumer Choice carries nocommercial advertising it is not swayed by bias or influence and can point out advantagesand flaws in goods and services that othermagazines may not be able to do.

Reports on any article relate only to the articles or goods mentioned, and not to anyother article of the same or similar description.We do not necessarily price or report on allbrands or models within the class, and theexclusion of any brand or model should not betaken as a reflection on it.

CONSUMER CHOICEConsumer Choice is published monthly by theConsumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) Limited,a wholly independent, non-government,non-profit making body. CAI was founded in1966 to protect and promote the interests ofthe consumers of goods and services, and toenhance the quality of life for consumers. CAI isregistered with charitable status: CHY 8559.

Advertising is not accepted for publication.Consumer Choice is available on a subscriptionbasis only. An administration charge will applyto cancellations. To subscribe please write to:

Consumer ChoiceSubscription Department43–44 Chelmsford RoadRanelaghDublin 6tel (01) 497 8811fax (01) 497 8601email cai@consumerassociation.iewww.thecai.ie

www.consumerassociation.ieReception tel (01) 497 8600 ext 20Advice / Information Service tel (01) 497 8600 ext 23

PUBLISHED MATERIALNo part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in anyform without the prior permission of the Editor. Itmay not be used for any form of advertising,sales promotion or publicity.© Consumers’ Association of Ireland 2008ISSN 0790-486X

Editing and Art Direction byMargaret Brady and Dermott Jewell

Typeset, make up and production bySwerve

Printed byBaird’s Printing Group, Belfast / Dublin

CoveriStockPhoto

122

CONTENTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice 123

News briefs 124

Farmers’ markets 125How local is your local market?

Working out your ESB bill 129We plug in to electricity charges

Beneficial bacteria 132What yoghurt can do for you

The Press Ombudsman and Press Council 135Who’s watching the media?

Essential fats 137The fats you should be eating more of

Composting and compost bins 140Helping your garden to grow

Compact digital cameras 141The perfect compact camera to take on holidays this summer

Pushchairs 146Choice Buy stroller and travel systems

Washing machines 151Six Choice Buys from our in-house test!

Monosodium Glutamate 155We take a look at taste enhancers

Currents 156Copyright copycat NanocosmeticsiPhone arrives Organic outrageThe demise of HD-DVD

Closure of RTÉ’s MW service 158A premature decision?

What am I to do? 160Spring cleaning

135 140Some of the reports we plan for you:

Banking chargesBargain food shelfBuilding energy ratingsDentistsDirect marketingEnvironmental incentivesFolic acidFood brand battlesGrocery price surveyGSM phonesHealth Service satisfactionHerbal medicineInternet securityJunk food advertising to childrenOrganic foodRole of pharmacy in healthcareVRTWeights and measuresYoga explained1c & 2c coins

INDEXIndexes are printed in the April, July,October and December issues ofConsumer Choice. Turn to p149 inthis issue for the complete index ofreports from January to March 2008.

129132125

137

COMING SOON

124

News by Dermott Jewell cc

consumer choice APRIL 2008 NEWS

The EU has released a voluntary codeof conduct for nanotechnology that

places the burden of responsibility forconsumer safety on industry. The new

voluntary code was conceived as anattempt to prevent gaps in knowledge

on possible health effects fromendangering the health of consumersby requiring researchers to proceed in

accordance with the precautionaryprinciple. Under the code, not only

will the burden of proof fall onresearchers in relation to safety but

they will also be accountable for theimpact of their work.

Heavy Burden

Hotel key cards are a collectable item for many travellers, as they can provide a record and reminderof memorable visits to distant places. However, for many, the point of retaining the card is toguarantee that their personal security is not compromised. Hotel key cards hold details of a

customer’s name, partial address, room number, check-in and check-out dates - and credit carddetails. The card is likely to be eventually electronically overwritten with a new guest’s informationbut many consumers are not prepared to take the risk that it might be scanned in the intervening

period and pose a security risk to them personally. So, hanging on to your key card is worthconsidering as part of the fight against scanning and phishing.

Flexible Foe

LOCK ’N’ ROLL

Digital lockers have been introduced by a number of online music firms to allow users to uploadtheir libraries to the Internet and then access them from any computer or personal device. There issome debate about whether this violates copyright laws, in part because consumers can give othersaccess to these files. MP3Tunes and Sideload are two websites that facilitate users in copying,transferring and sharing music. These sites are owned by their CEO Michael Robertson who iscurrently being sued by EMI for copyright infringement. If he loses the case then the digital lockerservice will likely disappear. However, Mr. Robertson has been here before and successfully walkedaway which makes this a particularly interesting issue to follow closely.

Newsbriefs

The latest information on

the world of the consumer

The CAI recently met with Minister Micheál Martin to discuss issues of concern - notleast of which is the low level of funding provided to the CAI from Exchequer Funding.This positive meeting gives us hope for a constructive future working relationship withthe Minister and his Department on the issues affecting the Irish consumer as well as

matters relating to the future of the CAI.

Meeting Minister Martin

Ethically Ethical!UK group Ethical Consumer has

recently launched an accreditationlabel that aims to combat the

growing problem of ‘greenwash’ bymaking it easier for conscientious

shoppers to choose genuinelyethical products and services.

The booming ethical market isbecoming increasingly crowded

and competitive and the very bestethical companies are struggling to

stand out. In addition, bigmultinationals with highly

controversial activities in some oftheir operations are starting to

market ethical products. Some ofthe UK’s leading ethical companies

have already signed up to thescheme, with products ranging

from organic whisky to washing-up liquid.

On 16 January the European Commission launched a sector inquiry into competition in thepharmaceuticals sector, beginning with inspections at the premises of a number of innovative

and generic pharmaceutical companies. The inquiry is a response to indications thatcompetition in EU pharmaceutical markets are just not working well, with fewer new

pharmaceuticals being brought to the market and the entry of generic pharmaceuticals beingunreasonably delayed. It will examine whether agreements between pharmaceutical companies

infringe the EC Treaty's prohibition on restrictive business practices. An interim report isplanned for autumn 2008 with final results expected in the spring of 2009.

The findings will allow the Commission or national competition authorities to focus anyfuture action on the most serious competition concerns.

Pillaging Competition

L-R: James Doorley, CAI Chairman, Minister Micheal Martin, Dermott Jewell

FOOD APRIL 2008 consumer choice 125

F O O D

Farmers’ marketsThe concept of a farmers’ market can be far from the reality of how these markets operate in Ireland. Areconsumers being misled, or do we need to rethink what a farmers’ market really means in the modernIrish context?

In recent years, farmers’ markets have

experienced a comeback. There are

now over 130 in regular operation in

Ireland. A list of markets, their

location, and the day and time of

operation is available on the Bord Bia

website (see Useful contacts).

Ideally, farmers’ markets are markets

where farmers sell their own produce.

Farmer-only markets are not often the

reality today. Sellers or traders who

have bought produce wholesale, or

food producers such as butchers and

bakers are the more common

participants at the farmers’ market,

rather than farmers themselves.

Origin and aimThe origin of farmers’ markets is with

farmers who wished to gain access to a

direct market for their produce. The

market for farm produce was

traditionally with the local consumer.

As technology developed and

communications improved, this

enabled food to be sold in markets far

from the place of production. A greater

number of ‘middle-men’, such as

processors and wholesalers, are now

involved in how food reaches the

consumer. Changes have led to a decline

in sourcing food locally, and a

consequent decline in methods of food

retailing such as farmers’ markets.

Product and priceConsumers can pay a high price for

food, while producers receive a poor

price for their produce. The concept of

the farmers’ market aims to reduce the

number of middle-men involved in

food supply, and therefore those

AT A GLANCE

Local food.

Producers.

Standards.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 FOOD126

aiming to profit from it. Following

from this it should also lead to a

reduced purchase price for consumers.

But farmers’ markets are not seen as a

cheap outlet for buying food. The

farmers’ market is thought to be more

expensive than the supermarket. It can

be argued that this is because of the

type of food sold. If the consumer pays

a higher price for food sold at the

farmers’ market, is this justified?

The farmers’ market is often a source

of foods that can attract a higher price,

such as organic, speciality and artisan

produce, or home cooked pre-prepared

foods. Products on sale at the farmers’

market may be unavailable at the

supermarket. Similar food products

will also attract a premium price at the

supermarket.

The costs of production on the small

scale can be significant. Producers may

have to invest in equipment and

premises. The costs of processing,

packaging and distribution stay with

the producer. Producers cannot achieve

the same economies of scale that can

be achieved by the supermarket. This

can also be a cause of higher prices at

the farmers’ market.

Consumers who choose to shop at

farmers’ markets and are prepared to

pay a higher price for food often have

reasons for doing so, such having a

preference for local or organic food.

The consumer has greater direct

knowledge of how and where the

food is produced. There are also

hidden differences that cannot be

directly observed - or at least, there

should be. For example, food that is

produced and consumed locally can

be better for the environment. It

generates fewer food miles and is

then less dependent on carbon in

its production.

If consumers are prepared to pay a

higher price for such standards, then a

commitment to uphold and guarantee

standards should be made by the

farmers’ market (see Market

Certification). Consumers are misled if

they believe such standards have been

adhered to, when in fact goods have

gone through the same or similar

channels as supermarket produce.

Displaying priceThe price of products is not always

clearly displayed for consumers at the

farmers’ market. The farmers’ market is

a less formal space for buying food. It is

suggested that the greater level of social

interaction when buying food at the

farmers’ market is part of the charm of

buying food from this source. The

consumer can talk to the producer and

discuss aspects of the product, such as

how it was produced and how best to

cook it. However, we should not over-

romanticise the social aspect at the

expense of true openness on price.

When it all boils down, the consumer

must still pay for the product.

At the first National Farmers’ Markets

Conference in 2007, the issue of pricing

was discussed, including the need for

some stallholders to display prices

more clearly. Pricing does not have to

remove the informal and social aspects

TYPES OF MARKET

Municipal markets Organised by a localauthority and operate in a public area likethe town’s market square or park.

Private markets Run by private companies.

Traders’ markets In some townsstallholders have historical trading rights,allowing them to trade at certain times.

Country markets Operated by the IrishCountrywomens’ Association where homeproduced goods are sold.

Cooperative or community-basedmarkets Run by a group of producers or acommunity organisation.

Shopping centre markets Held in carparks, organised by stallholders incooperation with the supermarket orshopping centre.

Event markets Held at specific times ofyear, in association with an event, likeChristmas or a community festival.

Adapted from the Bord Bia Guide to SellingThrough Farmers’ Markets, Farm Shops andBox Schemes in Ireland (2007).

FARMERS’ MARKET CERTIFICATION

The UK National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) has developed a certificationscheme for farmers’ markets in the UK. However, only about 50% of farmers’ markets in theUK are certified. The core criteria for a market to receive certification are as follows. Moredetailed criteria are available from the FARMA website.

Locally produced A certain area must be defined within which the majority of producers whosell at the market come from. Preference must be made for local produce. Producers fromfurther afield may be permitted if there is no similar product available locally. These producersshould come from a maximum distance of 100 miles.

Principal producer The stall must be operated by someone directly involved in production.

Primary, own produce Must be grown or reared on the producer’s land.

Secondary, own produce Must contain as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, withat least one ingredient produced within the defined local area.

Policy and information A farmers’ market must be clearly identified as such, as distinct fromother markets. Information on production methods should be available to the consumer. Themarket should have a policy that no GM produce is knowingly sold.

Other criteria Provided they do not conflict with the main principles, the market may establishother additional criteria they feel are appropriate.

FOOD APRIL 2008 consumer choice 127

Baker, butcher andcheesemakerA farmer is a producer of food, but

there are also other food producers.

Farmers are primary producers,

whereas other producers process the

primary product. A butcher produces

meat, a cheesemaker produces cheese,

and a baker produces bread. Farmers

often have to gain additional skills to

produce food products from their

primary produce. Dairy farmers

produce lots of milk, but they are not

often cheesemakers too.

consumer. Irish farmers cannot produce

the range of goods that the consumer

may be accustomed to seeing at the

market. Farmers’ markets should have

farmers present. However, it also seems

sensible that other skilled food

producers are permitted, to allow the

consumer access to a variety of produce.

Supply and demand Is the farmers’ market, in its purest

form, really an option in Ireland? By

far, the greatest proportion of

agricultural land use in Ireland is for

pasture and the smaller proportion for

horticulture, fruit and potatoes. When

we think about the variety of foods we

consume and compare this with what

we currently produce, the figures look

slightly obscure. In 2002, we were a

staggering 955% self-sufficient in

butter, 820% self sufficient in beef and

veal and 533% self-sufficient in cheese.

Our agriculture seems geared towards

export markets, rather than meeting the

food demands of the local consumer.

Farmer involvementOne challenge for authentic farmers’

markets is to get more farmers

involved, but this is not a simple

process. It means a change of life for

the farmer to run a small business as

well as a farm. In 2006, the percentage

of farm households where the farmer

had an off-farm job was 41.2%, which

has risen from 23.7% in 1993. This

highlights that a lot of farmers don’t

make a living from farming alone, and

farmers’ markets could be a good

option for these farmers. But the

average size of Irish farms is also

decreasing. This can make it difficult to

have an adequate supply of produce to

sell on a regular market stall. Irish

producers are limited in what they can

produce, depending on the type of

land they farm and their skills as

farmers. Produce availability is also

limited by climate.

Conflict of valuesAspects of agriculture in Ireland can

make farmers’ markets, with a

commitment to local food sourcing,

difficult to achieve. Conflicting values

come into play. Some consumers value

local produce, but are also accustomed

to consuming a variety of fruit and

vegetables that cannot be produced

locally. If the consumer wishes to buy

locally produced, seasonal foods, then

FOOD SAFETY

The current food safety legislation for food stalls1 also applies to farmers’ market stalls.Requirements are laid out for production, labelling, transportation, and for the stall itself.Depending on the quantity and type of product produced, it can be produced in a domestickitchen. Certain products, such as meat, dairy and fish products, should not be processed ina domestic kitchen. Prepared dishes (lasagne, fish cakes etc.) using such products may beproduced in a domestic kitchen, depending on the scale of production.

Bord Bia, in its guide to selling at farmers’ markets, recommends that food producersverify the ‘Use by’ date displayed on their product by conducting shelf life trials. ‘Use by’ isrequired for products that have a shorter shelf life and they should be used by this date.‘Best before’ indicates the date until which the product’s quality is likely to be at its best.

Stallholders must register with their local Health Service Executive office. They can getadvice from Environmental Health Officers on the food safety requirements for the sale oftheir products. The FSAI conducted a survey of artisan food producers in 2002. It wassuggested that full compliance with food safety regulation is less likely for producers whoconsider the regulations less relevant to them. At the National Farmers’ Markets Conferencein 2007 the issue of food safety was discussed. It was suggested that standards are higherthan in the past, but a greater exchange of information is needed.

1 Guidance Note 16: Food Stalls (Revision 1) available from http://www.fsai.ie/publications/guidance_notes/gn16.pdf

“The supermarketmay have the edgeon convenience butthere are othertrends that createdemand for verydifferent products”If the definition of producer at the

farmers’ market is extended to include

secondary food producers, the source of

primary products is important. To

remain true to the ethos of the farmers’

market, secondary producers should get

their inputs from local primary

producers (see Local food in the urban

context and Farmers’ market certification).

Information on the source of the raw

material should be available for the

of the market. We are not talking bar

codes and electronic scanners; a simple

sticker or small sign beside each

product could suffice. This could also

assist efficiency at the market. Some

consumers may want to chat, but

others may wish to make a quick

purchase. Also, if consumers have

already engaged with the producer and

discussed aspects of the product, they

may then feel obliged to buy the

product, regardless of price. If price is

displayed upfront, this allows

consumers to evaluate how affordable

the product is for them before they

interact with the producer.

Producer only?There is some debate as to who

should be permitted to sell produce at

farmers’ markets. Can a farmers’

market still be a real farmers’ market

if farmers sell their produce along

with other stallholders who are not

the direct producers of their food?

Farmers’ markets also need good

consumer attendance to be viable. If

only farmers are permitted, it could

make the market less attractive for the

consumer, as both the number of

stallholders and the variety of produce

could be greatly reduced. Should

farmers be permitted to supplement

their stall with bought-in goods, when

produce is out of season? A half empty

stall is not likely to encourage

consumers to make a purchase. It is

vital, however, that if produce is not

the farmers’ own that this is made

completely clear to the consumer.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 FOOD128

they also need to be aware that

oranges will never be local or in

season in Ireland (see ‘Seasonal

foods’, Consumer Choice, July 2007,

p256). We can at least only hope that

climate change does not lead to such a

transformation. Some compromise in

consumer demand may be needed for

genuine farmers’ markets in Ireland,

but it is difficult for consumers to take

that step back.

Man cannot live on sun-driedtomatoes aloneOf those consumers who shop at

farmers’ markets, the market is not

usually the main outlet for their food

purchases. Consumers will often visit

the supermarket for goods that they

cannot obtain at the market.

Permitting traded goods could mean

that a greater range of goods are

available at the farmers’ market. This

could save the consumer an extra

shopping trip, while also making the

market more viable.

However, for the consumer, this

depends on the type of food sold. If

more luxury food items such as sun-

dried tomatoes and olives are sold,

rather than basic foodstuffs, this does

not really solve the problem of an

additional trip to the supermarket.

Also, consumers have become

accustomed to a great amount of food

choice at the supermarket. However, it

can also be argued that a lot of foods at

the supermarket are just versions of one

product. Just think of the many ways

we can buy potatoes (mashed, chips,

croquettes, hash browns, potato farls,

wedges etc.). This gives the impression

of choice, but in reality we may just be

choosing between different brands and

processing methods. But regardless, can

the farmers’ market ever compete with

this variety?

The food consumerIrish consumers consume a wide variety

of foods. The type of food sold at the

farmers’ market is likely to be affected

by the shortened supply chain. For

example, we are not likely to find

functional foods at the farmers’ market,

but less processed foods such as meat,

cheese, fruit and veg. A key global

consumer trend identified in the Bord

Bia 2006/2007 Export Review is ‘Life on

the go – I need to be able to cope with

the demands of my busy day.’

Unprocessed foods usually require

some time to prepare at home. The

supermarket may have the edge on

convenience but there are other trends

that create demand for very different

products. These include: ‘making a

difference – I want to feel good about

the choice I make and do my bit when

I can’ and ‘the real thing – I am looking

for the real thing, I care where it comes

from and how it is made.’

Market certificationThere are, broadly speaking, a number

of different types of farmers’ market

(see Types of market). But regardless of

type, each market is independent and

there is a great amount of diversity

between farmers’ markets in Ireland. It

can be unclear to the consumer what

type of market they are shopping at.

Even if the type of market is made

clear, this does not give the consumer

a clear indication of the policies of

individual stallholders and the

number of producers and traders

present. A national system of

certification of farmers’ markets has

been developed in the UK (see

Farmers’ market certification).

The issue of regulation was discussed

at the 2007 National Farmers’ Markets

Conference. It was highlighted that

there is no ‘one size fits all’ model for

farmers’ market certification. Rules

were seen as necessary to prevent

unsuitable or poor quality produce

being sold, but rules should also have

a certain amount of flexibility.

Darina Allen, a pioneer of farmers’

markets in Ireland, told Consumer Choice

there is a need for some form of

regulation: “All farmers’ markets in

Ireland are independent. Some are

brilliant and diverse, others less vibrant.

However, it is vital that each farmers’

market draws up a protocol and code of

practice that all members sign up to. A

market controller to manage the market

and uphold standards is essential to the

successful operation of the market and

to ensure the bond of trust between

producer and consumer is protected.”

At the National Farmers’ Markets

Conference, traders were seen to resist

such a change, viewing it as extra

paperwork. Regulation should allow

each farmers’ market to retain its

independence and difference, but also

guarantee minimum standards for

the consumer.

LOCAL FOOD IN THE URBAN CONTEXT

Local food and farmers’ markets go hand in hand. But local food is not strictly defined. In itsguide to selling through farmers markets, farm shops and box schemes, Bord Bia suggeststhat as a general rule of thumb, local food should be sourced within a 40-50km radius ofwhere it is sold. Foods processed within this radius, with raw ingredients from elsewhere, canalso be called local food.

But for real ‘localness’, raw materials should also be local. In the context of urban living,the idea of local food can then be problematic. Consumers in urban areas should not bedeprived of access to local food. Standards can be adapted to different contexts, whileretaining regard for the idea of local food.

London has regulated farmers’ markets. London Farmers Markets Ltd. (see Usefulwebsites) sets out rules that producers must follow to allow them to sell at the market.These rules state that produce must be produced within 100 miles of the London region, andpreferably within 50 miles. An enlightened definition of the ‘local’ could be required in theIrish case to allow more consumers access to local food.

choice commentAssumptions can be made about the origin of the

produce on sale at the farmers’ market, without

stallholders making direct claims of such practice.

However, the name farmers’ market itself makes a

claim about the type of market and origin of produce

sold. Currently, many of the farmers’ markets that

operate in Ireland could be more simply and

accurately described as food markets. This is not as

catchy a title, but it does not tie the market to the

ethos of a farmers’ market, when this ethos is not put

into practice. Consumers are becoming disillusioned

with farmers’ markets because of this lack of clarity.

Farmers’ markets have changed since their first

conception and how they operate today does not

always reflect their origins. In the modern Irish

context, the right regulation could benefit the producer

and the consumer. The producer who wishes to side-

step the long and winding food supply chain could

gain a fairer price for their produce, while also

guaranteeing standards for the value-driven consumer.

Useful contacts

Bord Bia

Dublin Head Office

Clanwilliam Court

Lower Mount Street

Dublin 2

tel (01) 668 5155

fax (01) 668 7521

email info@bordbia.ie

www.bordbia.ie

www.bordbiavantage.ie

Food Safety Authority of

Ireland

Abbey Court

Lower Abbey Street

Dublin 1

Advice Line 1890 336 677

tel (01) 817 1300

fax (01) 817 1301

email info@fsai.ie

ww.fsai.ie

Useful websites

Irish Food Market

Traders Association

www.irelandmarkets.com

FARMA – Certified

Farmers’ Markets

www.farmersmarkets.net

London Farmers’

Markets

www.lfm.org.uk

Report by

Aisling Murtagh cc

SERVICES APRIL 2008 consumer choice 129

S E R V I C E S

When your ESB bill comes through the

letterbox, do you ever look at it more

closely and wonder how it manages to

come up with a figure that almost

always seems very high?

Electricity costs in Ireland are

undoubtedly high relative to some other

European countries. In January 2006,

Ireland had the sixth-highest electricity

prices for domestic households in

Europe, and nearly 50% higher than the

UK, according to a recent study

published by Eurostat, a European

Commission research body.

Between 2005 and the end of 2007,

ESB prices rose by no less than 26%,

before falling by just over 5% on

average in November 2007.

The Commission for Energy

Regulation (CER) says that the higher

prices consumers pay here are primarily

due to the small size of the Irish market

and the reliance on fossil fuels to

generate electricity. There is no access to

cheap hydro or nuclear energy.

Furthermore, up to €4.3 billion will

have been spent upgrading and

maintaining the electricity network

between 2001 and 2010 in a much-

needed investment to support a growing

economy, says the CER. These costs,

along with higher fuel costs, must be

recovered from all customers via

Working out your ESB billWhat are ESB’s standing charges and how are they applied? Can you really save money with theNightsaver tariff? We also take a look at the recent controversy over estimated billing, and report on thenew pilot scheme for smart meters.

AT A GLANCE

Standing charges.

Estimated billing.

NightSaver.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 SERVICES130

electricity charges.

Yet many consumers remain unaware

or unsure of how their ESB bill is

broken down or calculated. For

instance, what is a standing charge and

why does it differ depending on

whether you live in a rural or an urban

area? How does ‘estimated’ billing work,

exactly? What is the PSO levy?

Standing chargesESB’s standing charge covers the cost of

maintaining the supply network, as well

as the costs associated with reading the

meter, issuing and processing the bills,

etc. Different standing charges apply to

urban and rural customers, but they are

not influenced by the amount of

electricity you use. Different charges

also apply if you are a NightSaver

customer (see Nightsaver tariffs – can you

save?). A small additional standing

charge applies where a second meter is

installed for electric storage heating.

Excluding VAT, standard charges range

from €91.98 per year, or €15.37 every

Rural/urban tariffsDifferent standing charges apply

depending on whether you live in an

area designated as urban or rural. If you

live in a rural area, the standing charges

are more expensive than for those living

in urban areas. The unit charges, which

relate to the amount of electricity you

use, remain the same.

The decision whether to classify a

home as rural or urban is made by ESB

Networks, which builds and operates

the distribution network.

The criteria for classifying areas as

urban or rural, which were traditionally

based on a number of different factors,

were changed to a simpler system in

2005. However, the transition became

the subject of some controversy at the

time (see Overcharging controversies).

According to an ESB spokesman, the

current classification method is

relatively simple: “For instance, if you

are living on the outskirts of a town or

city in a recent development and the

line feeding the transformer is a single-

Report by

John Cradden cc

“the standing chargebears unfairly onthose who are small users,making the cost perkWh proportionallymuch higher thanfor a heavy user ”

two months, to €159.87 annually, or

€26.72 every two months (see our

table).

Although ESB granted what it claimed

was an average price decrease in

electricity supply of some 5.4% after a

wave of successive increases, what it

didn’t highlight was that standing

charges were increased by 5% (see

Choice Comment)

OVERCHARGING CONTROVERSIES

Rural/urban reclassificationIn late 2004, the ESB confirmed that it had written to around 3,000 ofits domestic customers advising them that they had been overchargedby the company for the previous six years.

The overcharging had arisen as a direct result of the change in theway that areas and households were designated urban or rural for thepurposes of ESB standing charges. The review had been undertakenas part of the company’s preparations for the deregulation of theelectricity market in February 2005.

Following the review, the company admitted that around one inevery 500 of its 1.5 million domestic users across the country hadbeen overcharged an average of €200 each since 1998.

An estimated 3,000 householders across the country received a letterfrom the ESB explaining that they were charged at the rural rate insteadof the lower urban rate since the company last carried out a review ofthe standing charges in 1998. These were all refunded a flat fee of€300 – slightly more the maximum that any customer was owed.

A few months later, the ESB said it would not pursue theapproximately 1,000 rural customers who had been mistakenly payingthe cheaper urban standing charge rather than the more expensive ruralversion. Those customers were moved to the rural standing charge.

According to an ESB spokesman, the classification of all areas,including existing and new developments, is now up to date and

accurate. There are roughly 600,000 customers on the rural standingcharge, with one million customers on the urban standing charges.

Estimated billingIn September 2007, a newspaper report revealed that the ESB mighthave been overcharging up to 50,000 of its customers as a result ofan anomaly in its estimating billing system.

The customers in question were those whose electricity bills werebeing estimated when the ESB's meter readers were unable to gainaccess to the building's meter.

When access was eventually gained to the correct reading, thedifference between the estimated and the correct amount wascharged at present-day rates, even when the electricity was used at atime when the rate was different. One customer was billed for unitsused since 2002 at 2007 prices, the newspaper reported.

Following the report, the Commission for Energy Regulation orderedthe ESB to review charges applied to customers' accounts for the pastthree years applying the pro-rata system, which imposes charges inproportion to the prices ruling at the various periods of the bill whenan exact meter reading is finally provided.

The ESB said that nearly 100,000 of its customers were affected. Itsaid the typical refund was expected to be between €5 and €10, tobe applied to bills during the first quarter of 2008.

DOMESTIC TARIFFS AND STANDING CHARGES

Standing charges € Unit charges (kwh)

Annually Per day Average Annual night General Night storage Night units2-month storage heating units heating units

Urban 91.98 0.2520 15.37 8.03 13.24c 7.00c n/a Urban NightSaver 126.29 0.3460 21.11 n/a 14.15c n/a 7.00cRural 122.64 0.3360 20.50 8.03 13.24c 7.00c n/aRural NightSaver 159.87 0.4380 26.72 n/a 14.15c n/a 7.00c

All charges exclude VAT @ 13.5%. Figures valid since 1st Nov 2007.

SERVICES APRIL 2008 consumer choice 131

phase rural line the premises is deemed

to be rural. Equally, if the line is a three-

phase urban line then the premises is

deemed to be urban.”

Estimated billingDomestic customers are billed every

two months and these bills are based

on actual or estimated meter reads. ESB

Networks’ accounting policy is to take

four meter readings each year. This will

result in two planned estimations

arising during the year of units used.

Any necessary adjustment between the

estimated reading and the actual

reading is made when the next reading

is obtained.

However, many consumers have

questioned how realistic this procedure

is as they are receiving more estimated

accounts than planned.

If you have missed the ESB meter

reader, you can submit a meter reading

online by visiting ESB’s website or by

calling the lo-call number 1850 372 372.

The ESB’s estimated billing system

works on a pro-rata basis, so that if a

meter is not read for some time, it

imposes charges according to the prices

in force at the period of each bill when

an exact meter reading is finally

provided. However, this was not always

the case (see Overcharging controversies).

PSO levyThe Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy,

which appears as a separate item on all

customers’ bills, is intended to cover the

additional cost of sourcing electricity from

indigenous, renewable and sustainable

sources. This is done in the interests of

fuel diversity, security of supply and

environmental protection. At the

moment, most of the funds from this levy

go towards wind generators and peat

stations.

In recent times, however, the market

costs of other fuels, especially oil and

coal, have risen dramatically to a point

where there is now very little difference

in the cost of production between these

plants and the PSO plants.

As a result, the CER, which sets the

levy, has deemed that for 2008 the

additional costs associated with

obtaining electricity from the PSO plants

is so low that it would have effectively

cost more money to administer the levy

than the actual total that was being

collected. So customers will not be

charged the PSO levy for the time being

and this will be listed on bills as €0.00.

The CER reviews the PSO costs

annually, as required by legislation. The

PSO levy for 2009 will be published on

or before 31 July 2008.

choice commentThe recent decision by ESB to reduce average electricity prices by5.4% was welcome, but any goodwill generated by this move hasalmost been squandered by the fact that it has increased thestanding charge by 5%.

Since the beginning of 2007 there has been an increase of almost7% per kWh, which, given the increases in the cost of fuel, isacceptable. What is not acceptable, however, is the increase in thesame period of some 34% in the standing charge.

In addition, this charge bears unfairly on those who are smallusers, making the cost per kWh proportionally much higher than for aheavy user.

ESB says the standing charge increase is needed to cover thecosts of the operation and maintenance of the network. This raisesserious questions about the inefficiency of ESB Network’s operations.The irony of this is that those on lower incomes, or who aim toreduce their overall usage in the interests of the environment, arepaying a disproportionately higher price.

The CAI demands that the installation charge of the smart metersbe borne in full by ESB. After all, the associated costs will surely beoffset by the savings achieved by the company through not having tophysically read meters. Efficiencies must be equitably applied.

NIGHTSAVER TARIFFS - CAN YOU SAVE?

The Nightsaver tariff is advertised by ESB as a way to

make ‘substantial’ savings on your electricity bill by

maximising the use of electricity during the night-time,

when electricity is cheaper. For example, to heat a full

cylinder of water, NightSaver unit charges are 7.00

cent between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.

(Wintertime) and between midnight and 9 a.m.

(Summertime), compared to the standard 24-hour rate

of 13.24 cent.

However, many customers have criticised the fact

that those on the Nightsaver tariff are charged a

higher tariff for their daytime usage than customers on

the normal tariff. The cost per unit of electricity for

ordinary customers during the day is 13.24 cent, while

for NightSaver customers it is 14.15 cent.

Furthermore, the standing charge for a NightSaver

customer is €126 a year, while the similar charge for

ordinary customers is €92.

As if that wasn’t enough, NightSaver customers also

have to pay a once-off installation cost of €256 to add

a second NightSaver meter. This means that it takes

some time before any savings offset the cost of the

installation. This charge also covers what ESB says are

the extra costs associated with administering the

account from meter reading to calculation and billing.

ESB insists that it is possible for NightSaver

customers to make savings on their bills compared

to ordinary customers, although this depends on

the number of electricity uses that customers can

switch to the cheaper overnight rate.

A spokesman told Consumer Choice that charges

for ordinary customers are based on the average

cost of generating electricity during a 24-hour

period, which would be more expensive during the

day and cheaper at night. But NightSaver customers

were already availing of the cheap night rates, so

their daytime usage cost was based only on the cost

of generating electricity during the day, he said.

The spokesman also pointed out that, unlike the

general domestic tariff, standing charges were

reduced last November 2007 along with the

decrease in unit charges.

Night-time electricity use is more

environmentally responsible, as the ESB uses its

most efficient generating systems at that time.

SMART METERS

The Government announced in November 2007 anational programme to install a new smart electricitymeter in every home, beginning in 2008 with a pilotphase that will see 25,000 homes installed with themeters in various parts of the country.

Smart meters are designed to operate like fuelgauges in cars so that people can see exactly howmuch electricity they use and at what cost. Theprogramme is designed to help householders cuttheir costs by using electricity efficiently and in theprocess to help to reduce the country's level ofcarbon emissions.

The national roll-out of the scheme, which isexpected to last four years, will be coordinated by theCommission for Energy Regulation with input fromESB Networks and Sustainable Energy Ireland. Thescheme is designed to cut electricity demand byabout 10% for every household.

Smart meters have a number of other benefits,

including better methods of selling power back to thenational grid for micro-generators. They also equipelectricity suppliers with real-time information, andallow for remote reading, which means ESB inspectorsor estimated bills would no longer be required.

A spokesman for the CER said that the estimatedcost for rollout of smart meters will be €500 million,but it had no figures for the likely cost of installing andoperating each smart meter. However, assuming twomillion customers in any national rollout, this wouldequate to about €250 per customer.

The pilot scheme, during which the participants willnot be expected to pay for installation, is expected toprovide a more accurate estimate of the eventual cost ofinstalling and running the meters, the spokesman said.

Most householders at present have no idea what theelectricity meter reading in their home means becauseit deals in kilowatt hours, and gives no indication of thecost of the electricity being used.

H E A LT H

Beneficial bacteriaBacteria are not something we normally think of as having a positive function. But there are different types

of bacteria, and some of them are extremely beneficial to our health.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 HEALTH132

AT A GLANCE

Good bacteria.

Gut microflora.

Probiotics.

Report by

Aisling Murtagh cc

Probiotics can be defined as ‘live

microbial food ingredients that have a

beneficial effect on human health’. The

term probiotic comes from the Greek

‘for life’. This links with the actions of

probiotics. They promote the growth of

good bacteria in the body.

Some bacterial microorganisms can

cause illness or are pathogenic. Bacterial

pathogens, or what we might call ‘bad’

bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli,

can cause gastro-intestinal upset.

Probiotics are non-pathogenic bacteria

that do not cause illness. They are also

referred to as ‘good’ or ‘friendly’ bacteria.

When we are born our digestive

system is free of bacteria, but bacteria

start to take up residence in our body

immediately after birth. There are over

four hundred species of probiotic

bacteria that can inhabit our digestive

tract. Healthy adults will have three to

four hundred bacteria species

inhabiting their intestines.

Types of good bacteriaLactic acid bacteria are the most

common bacteria used in probiotic

foods. They can be classified by species

(Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium) and

then by the specific strain of bacterium

(Lactobacillus casei or Bifidobacterium

bifidum). See our table on p134 for a

list of common lactic acid bacteria used

in probiotic products. Some of these

bacteria live in our intestines and are

classed as resident, while others are

transient. They do not take up

permanent residence in the digestive

tract, but form temporary colonies.

Lactic acid bacteria are commonly

used in the production of fermented

foods such as yoghurts, cheeses and

pickled foods such as sauerkraut. Their

growth lowers the pH of the food,

preventing food spoilage by inhibiting

other microbes from developing. This is

what gives dairy products, such as

cheese and yoghurt, a longer shelf life

than milk itself. While these bacteria are

used in fermented foods, not all of

these are probiotic. Yoghurt is probiotic,

but cheese is not (see Probiotic foods).

BenefitsA balance of good bacteria helps our

digestive system to function at it best.

They can assist the breakdown of fat

and protein and in the manufacture of

certain B vitamins in the gut. They can

increase our body’s uptake of certain

nutrients by improving their

bioavailability.

It has been suggested that many

gastro-intestinal problems are related to

an imbalance of microflora. When we

have a healthy level of microflora in our

intestines it helps our body deal with

pathogenic bacteria if exposed to them.

Some good bacteria produce

bacteriocins, which are antibiotic-like

substances that suppress the growth of

non-beneficial, pathogenic bacteria in

the gut. Good bacteria can therefore act

as a barrier to pathogenic bacteria.

Rather than just looking at probiotics

on a general level, particular strains of

probiotic bacteria have more specific

benefits. L. casei and L. acidophilus have

been found to have immune enhancing

properties. L. acidophilus also

encourages the production of substances

that inhibit the growth of the yeast

Candida, and is useful in the treatment

of constipation. B. bifidum has been

found to be anti-pathogenic; it can

prevent the growth of undesirable

HEALTH APRIL 2008 consumer choice 133

bacteria that can cause digestive upset.

Flora imbalanceBacteria inhabit our gut from birth, and

it is important to have the right balance

of good bacteria for digestive health.

Many factors can disrupt our gut flora,

such as a bout of gastroenteritis, and

even high stress levels. Taking a course

of antibiotics kills most bacteria in the

gut, whether good or bad. A low fibre

diet can result in low levels of good gut

microflora. Probiotic foods can help to

rebalance gut flora and help repopulate

the gut with good bacteria.

It is not just bacteria that affect the

microflora balance. Other

microorganisms, such as yeasts or

viruses, also occupy the digestive tract.

For example, the yeast Candida, which

can lead to infections such as thrush,

can also inhabit our digestive tract.

Problems occur when this

microorganism increases in number

and disrupts the balance of microflora.

Prebiotics Prebiotics stimulate the production of

probiotics. They are indigestible fibres

that are fermented by probiotic bacteria

in the colon. This then stimulates the

growth of good bacteria. Prebiotics

include fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS),

inulin and citrus pectin.

Research in 2007 in the British Journal

of Nutrition found that when the non-

digestible fibres in wholegrains reach the

intestine they have a prebiotic effect. This

effect does not occur when the fibre

alone is consumed (e.g. wheatbran), but

was found to result from consumption of

the wholegrain itself.

Functional food Foods that are marketed as having a

specific health benefit, over and above

their nutritive value, are deemed

functional foods. Probiotic foods can be

classed as functional foods. Some may

claim they will benefit the immune

system or assist digestion.

Other probiotic foods, such as bio-

live yoghurts, may just state they are

probiotic and not promote the specific

benefits of the bacteria they contain.

Even if a probiotic product makes no

particular health claims, it will generally

promote a good microflora balance and

depending on the bacteria present, may

have more specific benefits.

Research carried out by the European

consumer group BEUC, of which the

CAI is an active member, found that

consumers read and trust health claims

used in the marketing of functional

foods. BEUC also suggests that health

claims are often based on one attribute

of the product, which does not reflect

its overall health value. In relation to

probiotic drinks there is an element of

truth in this statement. Some probiotic

drinks can have a high sugar content,

so it is important to check the

ingredients if concerned about sugar

intake. A sweet taste can assist

consumer taste acceptance of a product.

However, this can take away from its

overall health value. It is also thought

that a diet high in sugars can support

the growth of unfavourable

microorganisms that disrupt microflora

balance, such as yeasts like Candida.

Probiotic drinks that are high in sugar

thus seem somewhat contradictory.

SafetyProbiotic foods are not new. These

bacteria have been used in certain foods

since the beginning of civilisation. They

even got a mention in the Bible. But

new strains of probiotic bacteria have

been developed for use in foods.

Consumers may be familiar with the

lactic acid bacteria such as those found in

Danone Actimel L. casei defensis or

Danone Activia Bifidus ActiRegularis.

These strains are developed, patented and

owned by the manufacturer.

Recent research from Holland has led

to some questioning of the safety of

probiotics. They were used in the

treatment of patients with pancreatitis

and more patients died from the group

where probiotics were used. In this case

probiotics were used as a drug

(introduced directly into intestine

through feeding tube). This can be

alarming for consumers, but we

consume probiotics very differently.

They are consumed as a food or food

supplement and not used as a drug.

The novel food legislation (Regulation

258/97/EC) governs the introduction of

a food or food ingredient that has not

been available on the EU market prior to

1997. Because probiotic foods have been

around for a long time, they are not

considered novel foods. If they are used

in a non-traditional way, they must be

assessed under the novel food regulation.

Useful contacts

Irish Nutrition and

Dietetic Association

Ashgrove House

Kill Avenue

Dun Laoghaire

Co. Dublin

email info@indi.ie

www.indi.ie

PROBIOTIC YOGHURTS AND DAIRY DRINKS

Manufacturer Product Size Price Price per Bacteria(€) 100g (€)

Danone Actimel drink 12x100g 4.99 0.42 L. casei orange defensis

Danone Activia yoghurt 500g 1.99 0.40 BifidusActiRegularisL. bulgaricusStreptococcusthermophilus

Glenisk Organic natural 500g 1.84 0.37 L. casei yoghurt wholemilk B. bifidum

(bifidus)L. bulgaricusStreptococcusthermophilus

Old Functional live 500g 1.99 0.40 L. acidophilusMcDonald low fat yoghurt B. longuum

plain L. bulgaricusStreptococcusthermophilus

Onken Natural yoghurt 500g 1.41 0.28 L. acidophilusB. longuumStreptococcusthermophilus

Rachel’s Dairy Organic yoghurt 450g 1.99 0.44 L. acidophilusvanilla low fat Bifidobacterium

L. bulgaricusStreptococcusthermophilus

Yakult Probiotic drink 7x65g 3.99 0.88 L. casei shirotaB. breveB. infantis

Yeo Valley Organic natural 500g 1.69 0.34 L. acidophilusyoghurt Bifidobacterium

Yoplait Everybody drink 8x100g 3.95 0.49 L. rhamnosus GG

Yoplait Essence healthy 6x60g 3.99 1.10 Bifidobacteriumdigestion drink BB 12r

Yoplait Essence immunity 6x60g 3.99 1.10 Bifidobacteriumboost drink BB 12r

consumer choice APRIL 2008 HEALTH134

But some new strains of probiotic

bacteria have been developed. The novel

food regulation is currently being

revised. It has been questioned by some

European consumer organisations

whether new strains of probiotic

bacteria should be subject to approval

under the revised novel food regulation.

The European Food Safety Authority

does not currently assess the safety of

probiotics used in food.

Probiotic foodsCommon probiotic products include

yoghurts and dairy drinks. These

products contain different strains of

probiotic bacteria. See our table for an

overview of a range of probiotic

products on the market and the bacteria

they contain. But not all yoghurts are

probiotic. Consumers will see bio-live,

live or probiotic on the label if they are.

The transient bacteria, L. bulgarius

and Streptococcus thermophilus, often

act as starter cultures in the yoghurt

making process. These bacteria can be

listed as ‘active bacteria’ in the

yoghurts ingredients as they are not

thought to survive passage through the

digestive tract to the gut. Other

probiotic cultures can be added to

probiotic yoghurts, such as L.

acidophilus, L. casei, B. bifidum and B.

longum. These probiotic cultures can

survive better, and the yoghurt itself

protects them from damage during

digestion. The specific bacteria that the

yoghurt contains can be shown on the

yoghurt label, or in the ingredients

lists, but is not always displayed.

Probiotic yoghurts listed in the table

are slightly more expensive than non-

probiotic yoghurts. On average, a 125g

pot of yoghurt costs about sixty cents

and a 500g pot around €1.80. Some of

the probiotic dairy drinks were more

expensive than the yoghurts. There are a

number of organic yoghurts listed in

the table. It seems that organic yoghurts

are also often probiotic.

For a product to claim it is probiotic

it must have a minimum concentration

of colony forming units (CFUs). Most

probiotic products will name the

probiotic cultures present, but do not

give the exact concentration. The greater

the concentration of probiotic bacteria,

the greater the chances of their survival

when they reach the gut. Testing of

yoghurts that claim to be probiotic and

the inclusion of the number of bacteria

that should be present in the yoghurt

If consumers wish to consume probiotics, it can be hard to know which products are best.Some companies who produce probiotic products emphasise the benefits of a specificprobiotic in their product, when consumed regularly. While these claims are often supported byresearch, let us be clear that this is also a defined sales strategy. Regular consumption meansincreased sales and profits.

choice comment

could provide consumers with clearer

information on the quality of a

probiotic product.

Specific bacteria have specific proven

benefits, but a balance seems to be

more beneficial to overall health.

Consuming a range of different

probiotic products could help this

balance, as these products will often

contain different probiotic cultures.

We may also see the term ‘synbiotic’

on yoghurts. These products combine

prebiotics and probiotics that work in

symbiosis to encourage the growth of

good gut bacteria.

Beneficial bacteria enter ahostile environmentWhen we ingest probiotic bacteria, they

have to survive an environment where

digestive juices, such as acids and bile,

can damage them. An important

function of our digestive juices is to

destroy pathogenic bacteria that can

cause illness, but this can also lead to

the destruction of good bacteria.

However, some are more resistant to

digestive juices than others. More

resistant bacteria will often be chosen

for use in probiotic products. It is

recommended that probiotic bacteria

which are used in probiotic foods

should be acid and bile tolerant,

capable of withstanding technological

processes and have a long shelf life.

Probiotic supplementsProbiotics can also be purchased in

supplement form. Probiotic

supplements will most often state the

number of bacteria present. This

number is usually measured on

manufacture of the product. The

number of probiotic bacteria present

will decline with time. Some

manufacturers will differentiate between

the number of bacteria at manufacture

and the number expected to be present

by the products expiry date.

Consumers may find that probiotic

supplements are kept refrigerated in

retail outlets. Probiotic bacteria are

living microorganisms. Storing them at

lower temperatures will prevent the

number of each probiotic bacteria in the

supplement from declining.

There is debate as to how well

probiotics survive digestion when

taken in this form. It is best to take

probiotic supplements on a full

stomach. Some probiotic supplements

can be enteric coated, which protects

them from being damaged by digestive

juices. They should then reach the

intestine more efficiently.

No RDAThere is no recommended amount of

probiotic bacteria that we should

consume on a daily basis. If we never

consume probiotics this does not mean

we will have low or no gut flora. There

are many factors that influence the

development of the correct balance of

gut flora. Sometimes gut flora need

rebalancing, such as after taking

antibiotics. In some instances they can

be more important than others.

LACTIC ACID BACTERIA

Species Strain Resident or Transient

Lactobacillus L. acidophilus Resident

L. casei Resident

L. rhamnosus Resident

L. bulgaricus Transient

L. salivarius Resident

Bifidobacterium B. bifidum Resident

B. breve Resident

B. infantis Resident

B. longum Resident

Other lactic acid bacteria Streptococcus Transientthermophilus

SERVICES APRIL 2008 consumer choice 135

S E R V I C E S

The Press Ombudsman and Press CouncilThe new Press Ombudsman and Press Council aim to provide a ‘quick, free and fair’ way to complain

about the press without potentially expensive and protracted legal action. But without any capacity to

impose fines or sanctions, is this just another example of industry self-regulation?

January 2008 saw the launch of a

Press Ombudsman and Press Council.

The two organisations together

represent a new system that will allow

members of the public to complain

about newspaper or magazine articles

that breach a new Code of Practice for

Newspapers and Periodicals.

Up to now, the only option open to

individuals or groups with a serious

complaint about the press was to take

legal proceedings, which often lasted

several years and involved considerable

expense.

The Ombudsman's office was set up

in order to give members of the public

an opportunity to seek redress in a way

that it says is free, fair and quick.

The office runs what it terms a system

of independent regulation for the

printed media, which is underpinned by

the Code of Practice. This Code of

Practice contains ten principles that the

press industry has made a binding

commitment to follow, including respect

for privacy, for accuracy, and for press

standards generally (see Code of practice:

main points).

All Irish daily and Sunday

newspapers, the Irish editions of British

newspapers, provincial and regional

Irish newspapers and a number of

Irish-published periodicals have so far

AT A GLANCE

Ombudsman.

Council.

Code of Practice.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

• It is funded by the newspaper and periodicals industry, but claims it is independent.

• Individual complainants must have been directly affected by the article or behaviour of

the publication.

• It represents a cost-free way of making a complaint about newspapers and periodicals.

• Only articles published from January 1st 2008 on will be considered.

• More difficult and complex rulings can be referred to the Press Council.

• Complainants can appeal a decision of the Ombudsman to the Press Council in

certain cases.

• The Ombudsman cannot deal with complaints that are already the subject of legal

proceedings.

• Findings must be published by the publications concerned, but no fines or sanctions.

• A complaint must be made within three months of date of publication.

• The Ombudsman’s office cannot deal with complaints relating to issues of taste

and decency.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 SERVICES136

when it was announced in 2007.

He has the option of referring

some significant or complex cases to

the 13-member Press Council. The

Council, whose chairman is Professor

Thomas Mitchell, is made up 50/50

of members representing the public

interest and members with

experience in the newspaper or

publications industry.

It will also be possible in some

cases to appeal a decision of the

Ombudsman to the Press Council.

Weak?But while the Ombudsman promises to

provide a new way for readers to com-

plain without having to go to the courts,

the system is not without its limitations.

The Ombudsman or Press Council

can give rulings on disputes and ask

newspapers to publish these, but

neither office will have the power to

discipline journalists or fine

newspapers.

What this essentially means is that

while readers may get apologies and

clarifications they will not get any

compensation.

It’s clear that Irish print

journalists, on the whole, are happy

with the new set-up. Following the

launch of the new office, The Irish

Times ran a positive editorial arguing

that “the Press Council was designed

to avoid the deficiencies of self-

regulation and the imposition of

statutory, Government-controlled

regulation on the press”. The

National Union of Journalists (NUJ)

has a seat on the Press Council, a

privilege that it doesn’t enjoy with

the Press Complaints Commission in

the UK.

In his speech at the launch of the

Press Ombudsman’s Office, Professor

Horgan said he hoped the efforts of

his office and the Press Council would

ensure that the courts deal only with

the really serious issues. “But many of

the problems that readers have with

the press are ones that have no

obvious legal remedies, and perhaps

no legal remedies at all,” he said.

“This is where the Press Council and

the Office of the Press Ombudsman

have much to contribute.”

He added that it was important

that readers first take up their

complaint with the magazine or

newspaper directly before approaching

the Ombudsman.

CODE OF PRACTICE: MAIN POINTS

The key elements of the Code of Practice are:• Newspapers and periodicals shall strive at all times

for truth and accuracy.

• When a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement

or distorted report or picture has been published, it

shall be corrected promptly and with due prominence.

• When appropriate, a retraction, apology,

clarification, explanation or response shall be

published promptly and with due prominence.

• Comment, conjecture, rumour and unconfirmed

reports shall not be reported as if they were fact,

but newspapers and periodicals are entitled to

advocate strongly their own views on topics.

Newspapers and periodicals shall strive at all times

for fairness and honesty in the procuring and

publishing of news and information.

• Publications shall not obtain information,

photographs or other material through

misrepresentation or subterfuge, unless justified by

the public interest.

• Journalists and photographers must not obtain, or

seek to obtain, information and photographs

through harassment, unless their actions are

justified in the public interest.

• Newspapers and periodicals shall not knowingly

publish matter based on malicious

misrepresentation or unfounded accusations.

Publications must take reasonable care in checking

facts before publication.

• Readers are entitled to have news and comment

presented with respect for the privacy and

sensibilities of individuals.

• Public persons are entitled to privacy. However,

where a person holds public office, deals with

public affairs, follows a public career, or has sought

or obtained publicity for his activities, publication of

relevant details of his private life and

circumstances may be justifiable where the

information revealed relates to the validity of the

person's conduct, the credibility of his public

statements, the value of his publicly expressed

views or is otherwise in the public interest.

choice commentThe CAI has serious reservations about any industry

that chooses to engage in self-regulation, which

includes solicitors, the advertising industry and a

number of others.

However, it would be unfair to cast judgement on

any regulatory system that has not yet had the chance

to do its work, particularly one that appears to have

been well-thought out and designed with reference not

only to similar regulatory mechanisms in other

countries, but also to what Professor Horgan has

termed “specifically Irish experiences and needs”.

The CAI is also mindful of the fact that it has the

discretion to engage with the Press Ombudsman’s

office regarding Consumer Choice - should any

engagement be requested. However, we are

confident that our rigorous editorial process, which

includes inviting comments and/or corrections on

rough drafts of our research articles from both

sources and organisations with a professional

interest, will minimise the likelihood of having to

enter into any complaint procedure overseen by the

Press Ombudsman.

Report by

John Cradden cc

signed up to the new structures and

the Code of Practice.

Most major newspapers and

periodicals are members either of the

National Newspapers of Ireland, the

Regional Newspapers of Ireland, or the

Periodical Publishers Association of

Ireland, which are founding members

of the new system. However, any

publication that is not a member of

one of these organisations, and which

wishes to become part of the system,

can apply to the Chairman of the

Press Council, Professor Thomas

Mitchell.

Readers can complain about an

article or articles that concern them

personally, which they feel are

inaccurate or have breached the Code

of Practice. People are also entitled to

complain about the behaviour of a

journalist if they feel the Code of

Practice has been breached.

As well as members of the public,

organisations or groups can also

complain to the office if they feel

that an article which has referred to

their organisation is in breach of part

of the Code of Practice, such as the

principle of accuracy.

OmbudsmanThe Press Ombudsman is Professor

John Horgan, a former journalist who

was a member of the Seanad and Dáil

Eireann before joining DCU in l983.

He was appointed Professor of

Journalism at Dublin City University

in 1999. He is the author of a number

of books on the Irish media and a

number of political biographies. His

appointment was widely welcomed

HEALTH APRIL 2008 consumer choice 137

H E A LT H

Fat can be viewed in a negative light,

but not all fats are the same, and not all

are bad.

The negative perception of fat is

probably due to its high energy value. It

has nine calories per gram. This may

seem like a lot when compared with

carbohydrate and protein, which both

have just four calories per gram. But as

with most foods, we should not evaluate

fats on their calorie content alone. Fat is

also an important nutrient and adds to

the taste of foods. The Irish Nutrition

and Dietetic Institute (INDI, see Useful

contacts) recommends that fat make up

one third of our total calorie intake. But

more importantly than this, recognising

the distinction between different types of

fat is vital for potential health benefits.

Good and bad fatThere are two main types of fat, saturated

and unsaturated. The consumption of

too much saturated fat has been linked

Essential fatsDietary advice for fat intake has changed. Consumers are faced with information suggesting some fats aregood for us, while others are still not recommended. We take a look at the some of the details.

AT A GLANCE

Omega.

Oily fish.

Fatty acids.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 HEALTH138

with high cholesterol and heart disease.

Trans fats are another type of fat. These

are most commonly formed when

vegetable oils are hydrogenated: a

process where hydrogen is added to

liquid fats, causing them to harden.

Margarine is most commonly produced

in this way. Hydrogenated oils are often

found in processed foods such as

biscuits, cakes and pastries. Trans fats are

unsaturated fats, but affect blood

cholesterol by increasing total cholesterol

and lowering the ratio of good (HDL) to

bad cholesterol (LDL). Saturated and

trans fats are ‘bad’ fats. When we

consume too much of them, they can

have a negative effect on health.

Good fats have the opposite effect and

can be beneficial for our health. The

benefits of good fats can counteract the

negative effects of bad fats. They have

been found to lower cholesterol and

protect against heart disease. Unsaturated

fats include monounsaturated and

polyunsaturated fats. It is

polyunsaturated fats, such as those found

in fish, nuts, seeds and their plant oils

that contain the essential fats omega 3

and 6. Monounsaturated fats, such as

olive and peanut oil contain omega 9.

Omega 3 is the most commonly

discussed essential fat. The modern diet

may be more deficient in this essential

fat than in other types.

SourcesNot all sources of essential fat are equal.

Sources of essential fat usually have more

than one type, and some sources will

contain a greater amount of one essential

fat than another. For example, fish and

flax seed oil are both rich sources of

omega 3, but also contain some omega

6. As with most things dietary, balance is

most important (also see Length of the

seeds. However, some polyunsaturated

fats contain much more omega 6 than

omega 3, such as sunflower and peanut

oil. Although not the most significant

source, surprisingly, green leafy

vegetables, such as broccoli, kale,

spinach, and even seaweed contain

some omega 3. Yet another reason to eat

your greens.

IntakeWe cannot manufacture essential fats in

the body, so we must consume them

through the diet. However, there is no

official Recommended Daily Allowance

(RDA) for essential fats. Fats are macro-

nutrients (as opposed to micro-

nutrients like vitamins), for which there

is no RDA set. Advice on how much fish

we should consume has been given, but

in the context of safety and

contaminants and not in the context of

the benefits of essential fats. This advice

also varies. In 2004, the UK Scientific

Advisory Committee on Nutrition

advised that 450mg (0.45g) of long

chain essential fats per day, or 3,000mg

(3g) a week is a safe amount to

consume. The Food Safety Authority of

Ireland (FSAI, see Useful contacts)

recommends eating two portions of fish

per week, one of which should be oily.

In 2004, the UK Food Standards Agency

recommended that men and boys, and

women past childbearing age, can eat

up to four portions of oily fish a week

(see Focus on fish).

Length of the chainApart from fish, there are many other

sources of essential fats. So why are the

fats from fish so good? When the

chemical make-up of each individual

fatty acid is analysed, they are not all

the same.

There are two types of fatty acids,

short and long chain. Short chain fatty

acids have fewer carbon fatty acids

than long chain fatty acids. Linoleic

acid (LA), Alpha linoleic acid (ALA)

and Gamma-linolenic (GLA) are short

chain fatty acids. Short chain fatty

acids are considered to be parent fatty

acids, as long chain fatty acids are

made from them. Short chain fatty

acids must be converted into long

chain fatty acids before the human

body can use and benefit from them.

The main long chain fatty acids are

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA),

Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The

Report by

Aisling Murtagh cc

HEALTH BENEFITS

There are many potential health benefitsassociated with essential fats. They arethought to:

• Protect against heart disease.

• Aid in reducing blood cholesterol.

• Reduce inflammation in the body and

assist inflammatory joint conditions, such

as rheumatoid arthritis.

• Beneficial in the treatment of

inflammatory skin conditions, such as

eczema and psoriasis.

• Aid in the treatment of depression.

• Help treat behaviour and learning

difficulties in children.

Essential fats have been called ‘brain food’

because of their importance in brain

function. They are a component of nerve

cell membranes that allow signals to travel

more effectively. Research from the UK has

shown when children were given an omega

3 (EPA and DHA) supplement for 12 weeks

there was a significant improvement in

their educational performance. See the

Durham Local Education Authority website

for more details.

Useful contacts

Irish Nutrition and

Dietetic Association

Ashgrove House

Kill Avenue

Dun Laoghaire

Co. Dublin

email info@indi.ie

www.indi.ie

Food Safety Authority

of Ireland

Abbey Court

Lower Abbey Street

Dublin 1

Advice Line 1890 336

677

tel (01) 817 1300

fax (01) 817 1301

email info@fsai.ie

www.fsai.ie

Useful websites

Durham Local

Education Authority

(UK)

www.durhamtrial.org

Food and Behaviour

Research

www.fabresearch.org

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

www.bim.ie

“Is it better to get essential fats

from foodsupplements?

The dominant expertopinion is no. ”

chain). The modern diet is thought to

contain much more omega 6 than omega

3. Our ancestors’ diet was very different

to ours today. It contained more fish,

nuts and seeds, which had a better

balance of essential fats. Some experts

suggest that ideally we should have an

equal amount of each.

Fat in foods does not always respect

the good fat/bad fat boundary. Sources of

saturated fat, such as red meat and dairy

produce, can also be sources of essential

fats. Even though these foods may be

sources of essential fats, they have more

saturated fat than polyunsaturated

essential fat, making them less than ideal

sources. But they also contain other

important nutrients, such as iron and

calcium.

Oily fish is championed as the best

source of essential fats. Oily fish include:

salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines,

pilchards, kipper, eel, whitebait, fresh

tuna, anchovies, swordfish, bloater, cacha,

carp, hilsa, jack fish, katla, orange roughy,

pangas, and sprats. Oily fish are so-called

because they store fat in their muscle.

White fish are not oily because they store

fat in their liver. This is where cod liver

and halibut oil are derived from.

The best plant source of omega 3 is

flax or linseed. Generally, nuts and seeds

are good sources, especially walnuts,

pecans, sunflower, pumpkin, and hemp

HEALTH APRIL 2008 consumer choice 139

omega 3 in fish is EPA and DHA,

whereas in plant sources it is ALA.

Conversion: short to longFish live on microalgae that contain short

chain fatty acids. Fish convert these into

long chain essential fats in their body.

Conversion is not thought to occur

efficiently in the human body. Research

has found that conversion of ALA to EPA

and DHA is greater in women than men.

This has been linked with the essential fat

needs of the developing foetus, suggesting

that womens’ bodies make greater use of

essential fats because of these extra

demands. In general, conversion of ALA

to EPA has been found to occur more

efficiently than ALA to DHA.

The modern western diet may inhibit

the body’s use of short chain essential

fats. Saturated fats, trans fats and the

absence of certain vitamin and mineral

co-factors affect conversion. A diet that

is high in omega 6 can limit conversion

of ALA to long chain fatty acids. So it

seems it may not be the fault of the

short chain essential fat, but our diet in

general, that can limit its capacity to

benefit health.

Food marketing and theomegasFunctional foods containing essential fats

have been developed (see ‘Functional

foods’, Consumer Choice, August 2006,

p293). These products will usually have

added fish oils and include some dairy

spreads, milk and juice. Consuming

these products can be a useful way to get

some essential fats into the diet.

However, natural sources may still be the

better option. For example, although

adding essential fats to dairy spreads

gives them a greater health value, other

sources of essential fats have better

overall nutritional value, such as fish,

nuts and seeds.

The fact that products naturally

contain essential fats can be emphasised

in food marketing and on product labels.

But as already discussed, some sources of

essential fat are better than others. For

example, Hellmann’s mayonnaise is now

labelled as a source of omega 3, but

when you look at the label, it contains

twice as much omega 6, the more

predominant omega in the modern diet.

In addition, the omega 3 present is in the

short chain form, which is more difficult

for the body to benefit from.

Gaining the most benefitsIs it better to get essential fats from food

supplements? The dominant expert

opinion is no. At the 2007 World

Seafood Congress in Dublin the issue of

consuming fish itself or taking fish oil

supplements to obtain essential fats was

discussed. It was suggested that fish is

most ideal as it contains other bioactive

substances that enable the omegas to

function. Fish is also a source of other

important nutrients, such as high quality

and easily digested protein, minerals

selenium and iodine, and vitamins A, B

and D.

Should we consume a bit of both? If

consuming essential fats to benefit a

specific condition, more may be advisable

and supplements could be considered.

However, no food supplement should be

taken without consideration of the

possible contra-indications. It is thought

that when essential fats are taken along

with other medications, such as warfarin

and statins, they can increase the potency

of these medications.

Fish oil supplements can vary in

quality. The cheapest may not be the best.

Look for information on the pack like the

source of the fish oil, how it was

produced and if it is free of contaminants.

Essential fats are easily damaged by

heat, light and air. Fish should not be

overcooked and should be consumed as

fresh as possible. Tinned tuna is not a

source of omega 3 as the essential fats are

destroyed during processing.

If you want to get your essential fats

from a plant source there are also a few

things to consider. Seeds are a good

source of essential fats, but whole seeds

can be hard to digest. It is best to grind

the seeds, which is best done just before

they are consumed. This ensures that the

oils are at their best and their quality has

not deteriorated.

choice commentFat can be bad for our health when we consume too

much of the wrong types. While our diets may contain

significant amounts of vegetable oils that are a

potential source of essential fats, these are often

consumed in a form or quantity that makes good fat

bad, such as hydrogenated oils in processed foods.

Some foods frequently consumed in the modern diet do

seem to have the scales tipped in favour of bad fats.

Deficiency in good fats, especially omega 3, is thought

to be common. Making an effort to increase our intake

of this particular essential fat could be wise (and with

the health benefits, could make us wiser too!)

FOCUS ON FISH

The dietary benefits of consuming oily fishare well discussed, but debate surroundingfish consumption has grown more complexthan these benefits alone.

Essential fats are important duringpregnancy. They function in thedevelopment of the foetus, especially thebrain and nervous system. They are alsothought to protect against prematuredelivery and low birth weight. Pregnantwomen and women considering gettingpregnant have been advised to limitconsumption of oily fish to two portions aweek because of concerns overcontaminants, mercury in particular. Somefish contain higher levels of mercury thanothers, such as shark, swordfish, marlin

and fresh tuna. During pregnancy, theyshould be limited over other oily fishspecies. To avoid this issue, plant sourcesof essential fats could also be usefulduring pregnancy.

At the 2007 World Seafood Congress inDublin, experts discussed the need for currentfish consumption recommendations to bechanged, given the low relative risk of thepresence of such contaminants and the greatbenefits of essential fats in the developmentof the foetus. A 2007 FSAI survey ofcontaminants in fish products available on theIrish market found that current contaminantlevels are well below EU limits.

The level of essential fat in fish is alsothought to depend on how the fish is

produced. Fish manufacture essential fatsfrom their natural diet. Just as the moderndiet has changed for us, it has also beenmanipulated for farmed fish. When fish arefarmed, their diet and living conditions canbe quite different to in the wild. It has beensuggested that farmed fish have lessomega 3 than wild fish.

There are also other environmentalconcerns in relation to fish consumption.Stocks of some fish are already in seriousdecline. If there is a rise in demand for oilyfish, this will put greater pressure onstocks. But we don’t have to rely on a fewspecies of fish to gain our essential fats, asthere are a great number of oily fish types(see Sources).

E N V I R O N M E N T

The huge rise in the availability of

compost bins from a variety of sources,

including county and city councils, might

suggest to some that we are becoming a

nation of keen gardeners.

Home composting is the process

whereby organic kitchen and garden

waste, such as flowers, grass, fruit &

vegetables, eggshells, tea and coffee are

deposited onto a pile or into a special

bin to break down and decompose into

compost. Compost is ready when it

becomes dark, crumbly and uniform in

texture, usually in about one year.

This home-made compost can be used

to feed your garden, potted plants,

greenhouse plants and is also an

excellent soil conditioner. It saves you

money as you don’t need to buy garden

fertiliser from hardware stores.

But in an age of growing awareness

about the environment and the benefits

of recycling, the contribution that

composting can make to the reduction of

household waste sent to landfill has been

the main factor in its huge growth among

households throughout the country.

By composting your garden or kitchen

waste, you can reduce the volume of your

household rubbish by up to 50%,

according to the Composting Association

of Ireland (Cré). This is because every

Irish home produces over a tonne of

waste each year. Of this, organic (food

and garden) waste constitutes the single

largest component, accounting for 32%

of the total, according to the

Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

As well as helping the environment,

this also means saving money on waste

charges, particularly if you are charged

on a pay-by-weight basis.

If you have a garden of any kind, you

can have a compost bin. Many local

authorities now provide home

composting bins at subsidised rates or

alternatively you can purchase one at a

garden centre or hardware shop. Typical

prices for bins range from €30-€50.

There are more expensive versions

available that can take items that a

regular compost bin cannot, such as

meat and fish. One such bin is the Green

Cone, which costs €195, including VAT.

Part of the reason for the higher cost is

that it features a solar-powered heating

unit and a double walled plastic structure

that encourages bacteria growth to speed

up the breakdown process. The final

result is a rich soil conditioner that seeps

into the surrounding ground.

Many local authorities will also be

introducing a 'brown bin' collection

for kitchen waste which will then be

composted at large scale composting

facilities. The highest quality compost

can be produced from the brown

bin scheme.

Composting and compost binsHome composting is becoming a mainstream domestic activity thanks to environmental concerns and

soaring waste charges. We show you why it’s all the rage and why you should do it too.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 ENVIRONMENT140

Useful contacts

Enfo

17 St. Andrew Street,

Dublin 2,

Ireland.

Lo-call 1890 200 191

tel (01) 888 2001

fax (01) 888 3946

email info@enfo.ie

www.enfo.ie

Irish Peatland

Conservation Council

Comhairle Chaomhnaithe

Phortaigh na hÉireann

Bog of Allen Nature Centre

Lullymore

Rathangan

Co Kildare

tel (045) 860133

or (045) 860481

email bogs@ipcc.ie

www.ipcc.ie/compwildhea

p.html

Useful websites

Race against Waste

www.raceagainstwaste.ie

WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T COMPOST

Do compost:• Green waste

• Fruit, vegetables (cooked or raw)

• Bread, pasta and rice

• Tea bags and coffee

• Garden waste, leaves

• Weeds (not weed seeds)

• Dead plants and flowers

• Branches and twigs

• Grass and hedge cuttings

• Kitchen paper

• Sawdust and wood shavings

• Straw

• Paper

• Wood

• Cut twigs and branches

• Crushed egg shells

Don’t compost:• Raw and cooked meat, bones, poultry, fish

and dairy products (attract pests)

• Greasy, oily food like mayonnaise or butter

(attract pests and decompose slowly)

• Dog and cat litter (may contain pathogens, or

disease causing organisms)

• Non-biodegradable materials like glass,

metal or plastic (will not decompose)

• Glossy paper (the coating will not decompose)

• Weed seeds (spread weeds)

• Diseased plant material (can infect other plants)

• Garden waste recently sprayed with pesticide,

sawdust or wood shavings from treated wood

(chemicals need time to decompose)

• Disposable nappies, used paper tissue (could

potentially contain pathogens)

P R O D U C T S

Test

141

AT A GLANCE

Holiday cameras.

Latest trends.

Eight Choice Buys.

Buying a digital camera to bring onholidays can be a daunting task, asthe sales assistant stands oppositeyou and spouts features andstatistics at you. You look aroundfor a way out only to see row afterrow of shiny new cameras in abewildering number of sizes andcolours. But don’t worry over thenext few pages we bring you ourlatest Choice Buy compact cameras,and tell you what to look out for,and what to avoid

What does it all mean?The first thing you need to decide iswhat will the camera be used for?Taking photos obviously, but do youwant to take a few snaps as areminder of a great family holiday orsomething a bit more advanced andflexible for taking photos oflandscapes and architecture? We havelooked at both basic and non-basiccameras and bring you Choice Buysfor both options.

The number of megapixels acamera has refers to the resolution,the overall quality of the finalphoto. Manufacturers have beenadding more and more megapixels

to digital cameras, in theory toimprove the quality of your photos.But unless you are thinking ofprinting your holiday snaps the sizeof a billboard the extra megapixelswon’t make any difference to thequality of your photos.

The issue of the zoom of a cameracan be confusing for consumers. Mostcameras are labelled with both opticaland digital zoom. Optical zoom usesthe lens to make an object appearlarger, as with a 35mm film camera.Digital zoom uses technology to cropand enlarge the image, thereforedegrading the photo quality slightly.When buying a camera it is theoptical zoom that you should lookfor and not the digital zoom.

Many cameras no longer have atraditional viewfinder on them, butinstead you use the LCD screen onthe back of the camera to composeand take the picture. This can lead tocamera shake and blurry photos as itis more difficult to hold the camerasteady. Optical image stabilisationuses technology to stabilise the lens.Look for optical image stabilizationand image sensor (or CCD) shiftimage stabilization. All of our Choice

Buys have this feature.Many cameras can now take more

than one type of memory card,meaning that if you are changing yourcamera or switching to a differentbrand, you may not have to invest innew memory cards. The mostcommon types are SD (secure digital),compact flash and xD picture cards,but some manufacturers useproprietary cards so be sure to check.It is difficult to say how many photoscan be stored on a card as this willdepend on the quality settings youchoose on your camera. Cards nowcome in sizes up to 2GB, whichshould be more than enough for eventhe most snap happy photographer. ASD card ranges in price from €40 for256MB to €90 for 2GB.

All of the cameras tested can recordshort movies. In all cases the qualityis not comparable to a camcorder, soyour camera may not be the bestreplacement if you like taking movieclips.

More and more cameras offerautomatic exposure modes. Theseset different preferences for thecamera’s automatic functions, forexample priority on high shutter

Useful contacts

Canon

tel (01) 205 2400

www.canon.ie

Casio

tel 0044 20 8450 9131

www.casio.co.uk

Fujifilm Ireland

tel (01) 882 0200

www.fujifilm.ie

Nikon UK Ltd

tel 0044 845 4500

0155

www.nikon.co.uk

Panasonic Ireland Ltd

tel (01) 295 0942

www.panasonic.co.uk

PRODUCTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice

ww

Passport – check, money – check, tickets – check, digital camera – um?

Compact Digital Cameras

The Choice Buy Nikon Coolpix P5100 is aimed at experienced users.

ww The Choice Buy Canon Digital Ixus 960 IS isan elegant camera.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 PRODUCTS142

MODEL SPECIFICATION

Price (€) resolution optical size (cm) weight (g) LCD screen optical internal (mp) zoom (hxwxd) (mm) (wxh) viewfinder memory

(mb)BASIC

1 Canon Digital Ixus 860 IS 400 8 3.8x 9.5x6x3 181 60x45 0

2 Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 341 12.1 3x 9.5x6x2.5 180 60x38 11.4

3 Fujifilm FinePix F50fd 400 12 3x 9.5x6.5x2.5 175 54x40 25

4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33 380 8.1 3.6x 9.5x5.5x2.5 151 50x37 27

5 Casio Exilim EX-S880 310 8.1 3x 9.6x6.5x2 144 60x38 10.8

6 Olympus mju820 270 8 5x 10x6x2.5 140 60x38 48

7 Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd 195 7.2 3x 9.5x6x2.5 126 54x40 54

8 Olympus FE-300 255 12 3x 10x6x2.5 132 50x37 48

9 Pentax Optio M40 170 8 3x 10.5x6x2 132 50x37 21.9

10 Samsung L83T 250 8.2 3x 9.5x6x2.5 132 50x37 19

11 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 400 8.1 3x 9.5x6x2 154 50x37 31

12 Olympus mju790 SW 330 7.1 3x 9.5x6.5x2.5 151 65x37 15.5

13 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200 450 8.1 5x 10x6x2 184 50x37 31

14 Samsung NV20 240 12.1 3x 9.5x6.5x3 168 76x43 20

15 Kodak Easyshare M753 150 7 3x 10x6.5x2.5 131 50x37 11

16 Olympus mju1200 333 12 3x 10x6x2.5 140 50x37 48

17 Pentax Optio Z10 290 8 7x 10x6x2.5 145 54x40 52.1

18 Hewlett-Packard R937 350 8.15 3x 10.5x7.5x2.5 235 50x37 32

19 Samsung i85 275 8.2 5x 10.5x6.5x2.5 182 73x55 190

20 Samsung L730 132 7.2 3x 10x6x2.5 153 61x45 10

21 Casio Exilim EX-Z77 230 7.2 3x 10x6x2.5 133 50x37 11.4

22 Nikon Coolpix S510 264 8 3x 9.5x5.5x2.5 142 56x36 52

23 Nikon Coolpix L15 191 8 3x 9.5x6.5x3 186 50x37 23

NON-BASIC

24 Canon Powershot A650 IS 430 12.1 6x 11.5x7x4.5 420 56x42 3 0

25 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 440 12.2 3.6x 9.5x6x3 174 50x37 27

26 Canon Digital Ixus 960 IS 500 12.1 3.7x 10x6.5x3 200 49x37 3 0

27 Nikon Coolpix P5100 388 12.1 3.5x 10.5x7x4 250 50x37 3 52

28 Kodak Easyshare Z1275 450 12.1 5x 9x4x7 235 50x37 58

29 Fujifilm FinePix A900 199 9 4x 10x6.5x4 220 50x37 10

USING THE TABLEThe table has been divided into basic and non-basic

cameras. Basic cameras are designed to be a simple point

and shoot camera. They are ideal for taking holiday snaps.

Most are very small and slim and would fit into your pocket

easily.

The non-basic cameras in our table provide lots of

manual adjustments (shutter speed/aperture/white balance

etc.) for the more advanced photographer, but the cameras

tested are still small enough to fit easily into your bag.

The more stars the better.

SPECIFICATIONPrice: Typical retailer’s price if you shop around.

Resolution: Effective pixel count, stated in millions of pixels

Weight: The weight of the camera in grams, with the battery

and memory card.

Internal memory: Built-in memory capacity in megabytes.

Memory card type: SD Secure Digital, SDHC Secure Digital

High Capacity, MMC multi media card, xD picture card.

Shooting modes: number of selectable exposure programs.

Movie zoom: ✓✓ means optical zoom, ✓ means digital

zoom only.

TEST PERFORMANCETest results based on automatic mode.

Image quality: takes into account resolution of the images

and colour reproduction among other things.

Ease of use: How easy the manual is to follow, inserting and

removing the memory card and battery, and setting camera

modes.

Viewfinder/ monitor: accuracy and quality.

Movie quality: on a TV and on a PC.

PRODUCTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice 143

TEST PERFORMANCE SCORE %

memory shooting image movie image ease of viewfinder/ versatility battery flash movie card type modes stabilisation zoom quality (30%) use (25%) monitor (12%) (12%) life (10%) (8%) quality

(3%)

SD, SDHC, MMC 17 ✓ ✓ www wwww wwww wwww wwwww wwww www 60

SD, MMC 35 ✓ ✓ www wwww www www wwww www ww 58

xD, SD, SDHC 16 ✓ www www www www wwwww www ww 57

SD, SDHC, MMC 21 ✓ www www www www wwwww wwww ww 57

SD, SDHC, MMC 38 ✓ ✓ www www www www wwwww wwww ww 54

SD, SDHC, MMC 38 ✓ ✓ www www www www wwwww wwww ww 54

xD 20 ✓ www www www ww wwwww wwww ww 52

xD, SD, SDHC 15 www www www www wwww www ww 52

xD 17 ✓✓ www www www www wwww wwww ww 52

SDHC 10 ✓ www www ww www wwww wwww ww 52

SDHC 14 ✓✓ www wwww www www wwww wwww ww 52

MemoryStick DUO 10 ✓ ✓✓ www www www www www wwww w 51

xD 23 ✓ www wwww www www www wwww ww 51

MemoryStick DUO 10 ✓ ✓✓ www www www www wwwww wwww ww 50

SDHC 15 ✓✓ www www ww ww wwwww www w 50

SDHC 16 ✓ www ww www www wwww wwww ww 49

xD 20 ✓ ✓ www www ww www www wwww ww 48

SDHC 10 ✓✓ www www www ww www wwww w 48

SDHC 8 ✓✓ www ww www www wwwww wwww ww 48

SDHC 14 ✓✓ www www ww ww wwww wwww ww 47

SDHC 11 ✓✓ www www ww www wwwww www ww 46

SD, SDHC, MMC 39 ✓ ww ww www www wwwww wwww ww 46

SDHC 14 ✓ ✓ www www www www ww wwww w 37

SDHC 14 ✓ ✓ www www www wwww wwwww wwww www 62

SD, SDHC, MMC 21 ✓ ✓ www wwww www www wwwww wwww ww 60

SD, SDHC, MMC 21 ✓ www wwww www wwww wwwww www www 58

SD, SDHC, MMC 18 ✓ ✓ www www www wwww wwwww wwww ww 57

SD, SDHC 15 ✓ ✓ www ww www www wwww www ww 49

SDHC 17 ✓✓ www www ww ww wwww wwww ww 48

speed in ‘Sport’ mode. In some casesthere are up to 39 different presetmodes so it’s important to have agood idea of what each mode doesbefore using them, especially if thereare more than 10 program options.There seems to be a tendency formanufacturers to substitute anincreasing number of such programsfor actual manual exposure functions.

Another new addition to the digitalcamera is internal memory. Exceptfor the Canon models (1, 24, 26) allthe cameras tested have the ability to

save photos to the internal memoryas well as to memory cards. Theinternal memory tends to be quitesmall, so an additional memory cardis still needed.

A kaleidoscope of coloursOver the last year cameras havebecome another fashion accessory.While traditionally most camerascame in a choice of silver or black,you can now choose between adazzling array of colours. The FujifilmFinePix Z10fd (7), for example, comes

in seven different colours includinghot pink, wave blue, red, midnightblack, wasabi green, moss green andsunset orange. Kodak, Casio,Olympus, Pentax, Samsung, Sony andNikon all have basic camerasavailable in a range of colours. Nowyou can match your camera to yourbeach towel.

A word of warning though, all ourChoice Buys come in the standardsilver or black, and none of the morecolourful cameras quite met thestandard we set for our Choice Buys.

NON-BASIC24 Canon PowershotA650 IS €430This Canon isconsidered a non-basiccamera, with lots ofmanual adjustmentfunctions, includingmanual focus, for moreexperienced users.Independent selection ofshutter and aperture isavailable as well as apriority mode for both.Image quality was equally as good on both manual andautomatic settings. It has a 6x optical zoom, which isquite large for a camera of this size. It has anadditional viewfinder, as well as a LCD monitor, whichcan both be used for taking pictures. However theviewfinder accuracy and quality weren’t great. It wasalso the only camera on test to offer an adjustable LCDmonitor which can be tilted to offer better composingand sharing. Rechargeable batteries weren’t deliveredwith the camera, but it did have a very good batterylife. We liked its high versatility and low shutter delay.Resolution 12.1 megapixels Optical zoom 6x Size 11.5x7x4.5cm Weight 420g Colours Silver

NON-BASIC25 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 €440This Choice Buy Panasonic is still a flat compactcamera but comes with most manual adjustmentfacilities for more advanced use. It has a huge 12.2megapixel resolution, the largest of the cameras ontest. It also has a 28mm wide-angle lens. No memorycard was delivered with the camera, but there is aninternal memory of 27 MB, which you can use to storephotos. It is compatible with SD memory card, SDHCmemory card and MultiMediaCard. It has no viewfinder,so photos are composed and taken using the LCDscreen on the back of the camera, but it has an opticalimage stabilising system, to give you clearer photos.Monitor distortions were very low and it has a verygood battery life.Resolution 12.2 megapixels Optical zoom 3.6x Size 9.5x6x3cm Weight 174g Colours Silver, black

BASIC1 Canon Digital Ixus860 IS €400Although not verysmall compared tothe other camerason test it is still aflat and stylishcamera. It offers areal ‘wide lens’system. Unlike theCanon Digital Ixus 960IS (26) it has noviewfinder, but it has alarge LCD screen which is used to compose photos,and there is an optical image stabilising system. It has

a very good battery life and very slowshutter delay, even when using autofocus. The camera starts up andwas ready to go very quickly. Thiswas the best of the basic models,but also slightly larger than theothers. As with all of the camerastested it can record video withsound, but only offers digital zoom

with this feature.Resolution 8 megapixels Opticalzoom 3.8x Size 9.5x6x3cm Weight 181g Colours Silver, black

NON-BASIC26 Canon Digital Ixus 960 IS €500From the same family as the Canon Digital Ixus 860 IS(1) the 960 IS is an elegant camera, and while not toothick is not quite as small as some of the othercameras tested. It comes with the ability to manuallyadjust some of the functions. The optical viewfinderand monitor can both be used for shooting, althoughwe found that the viewfinder accuracy and qualitywasn’t great, so you might be better to use the LCDscreen. It has a 3.7x optical zoom with optical imagestabilisation. As with the other Canon cameras tested(1, 24) it has no internal memory. The camera wasready for operation very quickly.Resolution 12.1 megapixels Optical zoom 3.7x Size 10x6.5x3cm Weight 200g Colours Silver

BASIC2 Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 €341This slim and stylish looking camera is Casio’sflagship model. It would easily fit in a shirtpocket, making it perfect for carrying onholiday with you. It has a large LCD screenwith optical image stabilisation, but noviewfinder on the back for taking photos. Ithas 3x optical zoom, which is standard forthis size of camera. It comes with awhopping 34 BESTSHOT exposure programsas well as one user definable program toreplace actual manual. The internal memoryis quite small at 11.4MB so you will need an

additional memory card.It also has 10 BESTSHOTpredefined video modes. Thiscamera is easy to use andoffers good image quality.Resolution 12.1 megapixelsOptical zoom 3x Size9.5x6x2.5cm Weight 180gColours Silver, black

NON-BASIC27 Nikon Coolpix P5100 €388

This is a small but compact camera. It isaimed at experienced users with higherdemands. Independent selection ofshutter and aperture is available as well

as priority modes, for the photographer who wantsmore flexibility. The only missing feature is manual

focus. Image quality was just as good with bothmanual and automatic settings. It has an additionalviewfinder, as well as a LCD monitor and offers aphysical image stabiliser, but, as with other cameraswith viewfinders, the accuracy and quality was bad. Itdoesn’t come with a memory card but images can bestored on the 52 MB internal memory, and there is acard slot compatible with SD cards. It also has a hotshoe connector to attach an external flash.Resolution 12.1 megapixels Optical zoom 3.5x Size 10.5x7x4cm Weight 250g Colours Black

BASIC3 Fujifilm FinePix F50fd €400The Fujifilm FinePix F50fd is a flat, small camera,excellent for general use. It uses a LCD screen fortaking photos, but has an optical image stabiliser.Although it doesn’t come with a memory card, photoscan be stored on the 25MB of internal memory and it iscompatible with xD and SD cards. It comes equippedwith a USB connector as with all the cameras on test,but also has an infrared connection facility whichallows for wireless connection to some compatibleFujifilm printers. Shutter and aperture settings aremanually selectable but only in priority modes andthere is a very low shutter delay. The quality of themovie feature wasn’t very good especially through a TV.Resolution 12 megapixels Optical zoom 3x Size 9.5x6.5x2.5cm Weight 175g Colours Black, silver

BASIC4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33 €380The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33 was one of thesmallest and thinnest on test and would fit very neatlyinside a shirt pocket, perfect for taking on holiday oron nights out. It also offers some basic manualfunctions. It has a wide angle lens and optical imagestabilising. There is no viewfinder, which isunsurprising on a camera so small, and it doesn’tcome with a memory card, although is compatiblewith SD and SDHC cards, and has 27 MB internalmemory for storing images. It has a very highcontinuous shooting speed and good battery life.Resolution 8.1 megapixels Optical zoom 3.6x Size 9.5x5.5x2.5cm Weight 151g Colours Black, silver

choice buys

The Choice Buy Canon Powershot A650 IShas lots of manual adjustment functions.

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consumer choice APRIL 2008 PRODUCTS144

The Choice Buy Canon Digital Ixus 860has a large LCD screen.

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The Choice Buy Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33 wasone of the smallest and thinnest cameras on test.

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Report byJenny Harrow

Samsung i85 (19)This small, flat camera can also be used as an audioplayer for MP3 files and a video player. Travel guideinformation for some places around the world can bedownloaded from the internet to internal memory anddisplayed with text and pictures on the camera.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200 (13) and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 (11)These Sony cameras have a touchscreen monitor forusing the menus. They also offer a component videosignal connection via optional cable which allows youto watch video in HDTV 1080i mode with acompatible monitor.

Samsung NV20 (14)This camera doesn’t have a touchscreen, but has arow of buttons below and to the right of the monitorwhich provide menu operation. The function of eachof these buttons changes with the menu entry, theactive function is displayed above each button at themonitor. This unusual menu concept may requiresome practice to master.

Olympus 820 (6), Olympus 790 SW (12) andOlympus 1200 (16)These Olympus cameras have weatherproofprotection against rain. The 790 SW is alsoShockproof according to Olympus test conditions, and

freezeproof. They say you can take it mountainbiking, swimming or skiing.

Casio Exilim EX-S880 (5) and Casio Exilim EX-Z77 (21)Both of these Casio digital cameras offer YouTube™Capture Mode, allowing you to shoot and save moviesat the optimum size, quality and settings for easierupload to YouTube™ (www.youtube.ie).

Other Features

PRODUCTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice 145

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A SD card ranges in price

from €40 for 256MB to€90 for 2GB.

The Choice Buy Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 has optical image stabilisation.

The Choice Buy Panasonic LumixDMC-FX100 is a flat camera withlots of advanced features.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd comesin seven different colours.

cc

PushchairsWe bring you up to date on the latest trends in the pushchair marketand help you decide what is right for you and your baby.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 PRODUCTS146

Buying a new buggy, whether for a

newborn or an older child can be a

daunting process. Many new and

expectant parents can feel completely

overwhelmed by the deluge of glossy

brochures and colours, styles and

features. Consumers shopping for their

first buggy are often laden down with so

many leaflets and so much information

that it would make the most seasoned

shopper dizzy. Never fear, Consumer

Choice is here, as always, to make sense

of it all.

And the even better news is you don’t

need to spend a fortune on a fancy,

designer buggy to get a good one. All of

our Choice Buys are under €260. The

more expensive models may come with

more accessories and more colour

options but the most important factor to

consider is that your baby is comfortable

and safe. In fact you can get a Choice

Buy pushchair for as little as €56, and

though it might be light on accessories

and extras, and may not look as swanky

as some of the other options, it passed

the CAI’s tests with flying colours.

It just goes to show that the old adage

that you get what you pay for doesn’t in

this case hold true.

The low-down on accessoriesThere is a staggering array of accessories

available with various buggies. These

range from a shopping basket, which

appears on all of the buggies Consumer

Choice tested, to a clock and temperature

gauge, both on the iCandy Apple (11).

Some of the most common accessories

include extra pockets, a rain cover, hood

with or without a window in it, an apron,

foot muffs, removable covers, an

accessories bag, and wheel suspension.

The Maclaren Techno XT (4) comes

with reflective panels on the hood and

seams. The Britax Voyaga Ultra (8) has

AT A GLANCE

Travel systems.

All terrain.

Three Choice Buys.

Useful contacts

Mamas & Papas

1890 882 363

www.mamasandpapas.ie

Maclaren

tel 0044 132 784 1300

www.maclarenbaby.com

The Mamas & Papas 03Sport Surefix was the bestall terrain buggy.

wwThe car seat on the ChoiceBuy Maclaren Techno XLR wassimple to attach and remove.

P R O D U C T S

Test

PRODUCTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice 147

Report by

Jenny Harrow cc

STROLLER1 Mamas & Papas Mamu Mu1 €56This is quite a basic and lightweight buggy. It

doesn't have any added accessories but this

fact is reflected in the price. It was quite easy

to fold and unfold and compact when folded. It

is suitable from 6 months to 15kg. It performed

well on smooth pavement and tight spaces

because of the small wheels, but was a bit

shaky on uneven ground. The brakes were

effective, but the testers felt that the brake

pedal was a bit small. The overall impression

from the user trials was that it was basic but

good for what it was and the parents liked the

simple stroller. It proved un-problematic on the

bus and easily fitted into the parking space. It

was easy to balance on the escalator going

down, and going up both wheels rested on the

steps. This is a perfect lightweight buggy that

you could easily use for trips to the shops, or

that could be used as an additional buggy to be

kept in the car boot for

emergencies.

Accessories Storage

basket Back restpositions Two 150°recline No

STROLLER2 Mamas & Papas ZikoAlfie €225This buggy was easy to

assemble and fold away,

and fit easily into the

boot of a Hyundai Accent,

leaving lots of room for

other items. It is suitable

from birth to 15kg, which

is about 3 years of age. It

was also solid and sturdy

on a range of surfaces

such as pavements and

uneven surfaces. It was

easy to get up and down

curbs, and down stairs,

but the brake scraped

slightly on the steps

when going up. Placing

the child in the buggy was easy, but the

harness goes behind the back, which may be

uncomfortable for the child. The buggy did well

in the public transport simulation, fitting easily

in the gangway, and turning well. It was easy to

use on escalators too, balanced well on the

rear wheels when going down and supported

on both wheels when going up so it was very

stable. The buggy was easy to clean. It is a

very stylish looking buggy.

Accessories Rain cover, hood with storage

pocket, footmuff, shopping basket Back restpositions Four 150° recline Yes

TRAVEL SYSTEM7 Maclaren Techno XLR €260This travel system is sold either on its own or

with a Recaro Young Profit Plus car seat. It is

suitable from birth to 13kg. This buggy was

trouble-free to unfold and put the child into it.

The car seat was simple to attach and remove.

The brakes were effective and easy to apply. It

performed well on pavements, but slightly shaky

on uneven surfaces. It was easy to fold and fit

neatly into the boot of the Hyundai Accent, with

plenty of space left over. It is lightweight with the

car seat, compared with other travel systems.

User feedback was positive overall, with one

person saying that they 'liked everything about

it'. The buggy had no problems at all when it

came to dealing with public transport, even with

the car seat attached.

Accessories Rain cover, hood with window,

apron, shopping basket Back rest positionsFour 150° recline Yes

choice buys

child and adult cup holders. The Jane

Carrera Pro (14) comes with a newborn

head support. The Graco Trekko (18)

and the Maclaren Techno XLR (7) both

have machine washable seat covers. Phil

& Ted's Sport (19) has a sleeping bag

cover.

As you can see, some features are more

practical than others, so make your

decision based on how useful the

accessories are to you, rather than the

sheer number of them.

Ch ch ch changes...Some of the buggies tested have been

updated for 2008. In consultation with

the testing lab, Consumer Choice have

decided that these changes would not

change the score for the buggies, so we

have included the results for the 2007

models, and indicate here any changes

that have been made to the 2008

models.

Maclaren Techno XT (4)Maclaren Techno XLR Travel System (7)The 2008 models of both these buggies

include a new buckle that is harder for

the child to undo, new hubcaps and

new fabric colours to include silver grey,

flame orange, scarlet, powder pink/sky

blue, black, damask and stripe for the

XT (4), and coffee brown or soft blue

for the XLR (7).

Britax Voyaga Ultra (8)Britax have changed the car seat

attachment, improved the styling of

fabrics and changed the hood shape to

allow for better enclosure in rearward

facing mode.

Bugaboo Cameleon (10)Bugaboo have replaced the air filled

tyres with new foam filled tyres and a

ww

wwThe ChoiceBuy Mamas &Papas ZikoAlfie was easyto assembleand fold away.

The Choice BuyMamas & PapasMamu Mu1 isquite a basicand lightweightbuggy.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 PRODUCTS148

Although not quite good enough to be aChoice Buy if you are looking for an allterrain buggy, this one scored best in theCAI tests.

Mamas & Papas 03 Sport Surefix (16)This all terrain buggy is suitable from birth to

15kg, which is about three years old. It

comes with a shopping basket, rain cover,

foot muff and a hood with a window in it. It

had integrated car seat adapters for the

Primo Viaggio car seat, which is sold

separately. The car seat was easy to attach

and remove. Although it was easy to place

the child in the buggy, one of the experts

found the straps a bit difficult to adjust. The

breaks were easy to use. It performed well

on all surfaces and up and down stairs.

Folding the buggy was straightforward and

light to carry, but it is quite bulky when

folded. It fit in the boot of the Hyundai

Accent, but with no room to spare for other

items. By and large, this buggy was let down

by its size. While it fitted into the gangway of

the bus it had problems manoeuvring around

the corners. It was however easy enough to

balance on the escalator.

Also worth considering

Each buggy is rigorously tested both atthe lab and by a panel of parents. With notone but two sets of experts getting togrips with these buggies, you know theyhave been meticulously tested.

All buggies are thoroughly tested in thelab for performance, how easy they are touse, transport and store. They are alsotested against safety regulations.

The parents then road test the buggies,taking them around a task-based obstaclecourse. Also included is a public transporttest. A simulation of a bus and escalatorswas set up in the lab to see how thebuggies would fare in these situations.On the bus the testers rate how easy it isto get the buggy onto the bus, how it fitsin the gangway, how easy it is to turn

and park the buggy. For the escalator testthe buggy was taken up and down thestairs to assess how it coped with thissituation. This showed how easily itbalanced both going up and down, andhow secure it was.

All of Consumer Choice's test ratingsare a combination of lab expert andparental assessment.

THE LENGTHS WE GO TO…

MODEL SPECIFICATION TEST PERFORMANCE

Price (€) weight folded from one handed removable car seat travel (kg) size (cm) birth folding seat covers compatible system

STROLLER

1 Mamas & Papas Mamu Mu1 56 5.8 18x28x98 ✓

2 Mamas & Papas Ziko Alfie 225 8.2 49x27x103 ✓✓ ✓

3 Graco Mojo 129 7.8 26x36x108 ✓✓ ✓

4 Maclaren Techno XT 250 7.6 33x33x108 ✓✓ ✓

5 Mamas & Papas Mamu Mu2 105 7.4 37x30x105 ✓✓ ✓

6 Chicco Simplicity 150 9.6 43x50x95 ✓✓ ✓

CAR SEAT COMPATIBLE

7 Maclaren Techno XLR Travel System 260 8.2 35x33x112 ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

8 Britax Voyaga Ultra 359 13.2 42x60x92 ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

9 Dorel Bebe Comfort Loola 349 13.8 35x42x104 ✓✓ ✓ ✓

10 Bugaboo Cameleon 889 9.4 31x59x90 ✓ ✓ ✓

11 icandy Apple 564 9.8a 32x60x89 ✓ ✓ ✓

12 Britax Verve 225 7.3 39x45x69 ✓ ✓ ✓

13 Mamas & Papas Pliko Mod + 385 9.8 44x35x102 ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

14 Jane carrera Pro 349 11.6 48x42x102 ✓✓ ✓ ✓

15 Stokke Xplory 979 12 57x45x108 ✓ ✓ ✓

ALL TERRAIN

16 Mamas & Papas 03 Sport Surefix 290 12.6 41x59x122 ✓✓ ✓ ✓

17 Mamas & Papas Mamu Mu3 160 9.4 43x63x87 ✓✓

18 Graco Trekko 329 13.2 60x66x95 ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

19 Out n about Phil n Ted’s Sport 499 12.2 33x61x96 ✓✓ ✓

a Chassis only

PRODUCTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice 149

USING THE TABLE

The more stars the better. The Choice

Buy models are indicated by a

different colour.

SPECIFICATION:

Price: Typical retailer’s price if you

shop around.

Weight: Without accessories.

From birth: Buggies marked ✓✓

recline more than 150°, those with

✓ recline more than 120°. A recline

of 150° is best for newborns.

Travel system: These buggies

include a car seat in the price.

TEST PERFORMANCE:

Manoeuvring: How easy it is to

manoeuvre the buggy on different

surfaces, including pavements,

kerbs, uneven surfaces and stairs.

Day-to-day use: This is a general

rating of how easy the buggy is to

use, clean, using the brakes and

restraints, placing the child in the

buggy and storing it in the car.

Folding: How easy it is to unfold and

fold away.

Storage: The size of the storage

space in the buggy and how easy it

is to access.

Reclining: How easy it is to adjust

the recline of the buggy.

Use on public transport: How easy

it is to use the buggy on busses and

on escalators.

Off-road: Only all terrain buggies

were tested. How well they coped

with off-road surfaces.

SCORE

Ignores price and is based on:

Manoeuvring 30%

Day-to-day use 20%

Folding 15%

Comfort to push 10%

Storage 10%

Reclining 10%

Public transport 5%

new folding mechanism. The

handlebars have been changed to

include an adjustable system with

clips and new release buttons. New

fabric sets are also available in fleece

colours or new canvas colours.

Britax Verve (12)The Verve has been updated and

launched as the Verve+ with a hood

height that allows for a larger child to

be accommodated. Britax have also

updated the fabrics and improved

durability with quality and

engineering enhancements. The Verve

had good results in our durability

tests.

StrollersStroller, buggy, pushchair… All

basically the same thing, just the name

changes depending on what part of the

world you’re in. They tend to be more

light weight and more compact than

travel systems or all terrain buggies.

Great for strolling you might say. Every

SCORE %

manoeuvring day-to-day folding comfort storage reclining use on public car seat offroad(30%) use (20%) (15%) to push (10%) (10%) (10%) transport (5%) attachment

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consumer choice APRIL 2008 PRODUCTS150

parent will need some form of stroller or

buggy to easily transport their little

bundle of joy.

The options can range from the most

basic buggy to more robust types with

plenty of extra features. It’s important

before you go to buy a buggy to identify

your needs, which will help whittle the

selection down. Do you have a newborn,

in which case you will need a buggy with

a large recline, or do you have an older

child? Different buggies are more

suitable to different stages of

development. Do you need something

you can just throw in the boot of your

car for occasional use? In which case

look for something that’s compact when

folded. Or do you use mainly public

transport? If you do, look for something

that is lightweight and easy to

manoeuvre. Check our table for more

advice on which Choice Buy buggies

match these features.

Buggies and strollers now come in a

dazzling array colours. As new mums

and dads are becoming more and more

fashion conscious, manufacturers are

offering buggies in more colours and

styles than you could ever possibly want.

A word of caution though, don’t be

swayed too much by looks, babies don’t

care what they look like, as long as they

are safe and comfortable.

All terrainAn all terrain, or off-road buggy, is

designed to be suitable in more rugged

areas than the standard buggy. They are

designed for parents who like going for

walks, up mountains, in the woods or on

the beach, environments where it would

be difficult to bring a regular buggy. They

are all terrain, designed, unsurprisingly,

for all terrains, rural or urban.

Each of the all terrain buggies Consumer

Choice tested have three wheels rather than

the usual four, with two at the back and

one at the front, giving better balance on

rough ground. They also have a swivel

wheel at the front. This makes navigation

easier on uneven surfaces. They all came

with pneumatic tyres similar to mountain

bike tyres, which can puncture, so make

sure to bring a puncture repair kit with you.

There could be nothing worse than getting

stranded on hill, however pretty the view,

with a burst tyre and no way of fixing it.

All terrain buggies do however tend to be

a bit more expensive. The four tested range

from €160 to €499. And they also tend to

be a bit bulkier, so check before you buy

that it will fit into the boot of your car.

Travel systemsThe latest trend in the world of buggies is

the proliferation of the travel system. In

the strictest sense (and the criteria

Consumer Choice uses for our table) a travel

system is a buggy that comes with a car

seat included, often offering good value

for money. But there are many other

buggies that are car seat or carry cot

compatible, where the car seat or carry cot

is sold separately, sometimes from a

different manufacturer. The car seat can

then be attached to the buggy frame,

allowing you to easily take your baby from

car to buggy. Where a car seat attachment

is available on the buggy, Consumer Choice

have rated how easy it is to use (see table).

While a travel system may seem more

expensive (the four tested ranged from

€260 to €385) remember that you don’t

initially need to buy a separate car seat.

You may however need to buy a new car

seat when the baby reaches 10kgs, on

average this is about nine to twelve

months.

The benefits include being able to

move a sleeping baby from car to buggy

without waking them. This is a distinct

advantage; nobody would want to

disturb a sleeping baby. It also means

that the baby will be facing you in the

buggy while using the car seat

attachment, giving peace of mind to

parents with young children.

You should however make sure that

the car seat is suitable for your car and

suitable and safe for your baby;

otherwise you might be better off buying

a separate car seat and buggy. It’s also

important that the baby isn’t left in the

car seat for too long, as babies need to

be able to lie flat and move easily to

help development.

“It’s importantbefore you go tobuy a buggy toidentify your needs, which

will help whittle theselection down.”

PRODUCTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice 151

AT A GLANCE

Switching to 30°.

Six Choice Buys.

P R O D U C T S

Test

This time Consumer Choice has tested23 machines in total, bringing youour widest range to date. We've alsoincluded, for the first time, somecompact models for those of youthat need a space saving option (seeAlso worth considering). This bountycrop of machines reveals six ChoiceBuys, with a range of features andprice points.

The big disappointment, however,from these tests were the rinsingresults. Nearly every machine in thetest was let down by poor rinsing.Even most of the Choice Buymachines gave relatively poorrinsing results. Good rinsing isespecially important if you havesensitive skin, or have a particularsensitivity to laundry detergent. Andpoor rinsing means that there ismore detergent left on the clothes atthe end of the cycle. Some machinesdo, however, offer an extra rinsecycle, either added to your chosenprogram or as a separate rinse onlyoption. With only one or twoexceptions, all the machines wetested included these features.

Switching to 30°So we've all seen the ads on TV,

trying to persuade us to switch to alower temperature wash to save notonly the environment but lots ofmoney too. Sustainable EnergyIreland (SEI) advise us to use thelowest water temperature requiredfor the items being washed in orderto save electricity. While not allclothes can be washed at 30°, shouldwe be washing the ones that can atthis lower temperature? And are youactually saving energy and water, andmore importantly money? ConsumerChoice compared the 30° and the40° wash settings on most of thewashing machines tested to find out.

The comparison table shows that,of the 20 machines where bothtemperature settings were tested,though a few of the machines hadlonger 30° washing cycles, onaverage you would be saving yourself14 minutes by switching to the lowertemperature.

This translates into energy savings.Switching from 40° to 30° gives youan average saving of 77c per wash,based on a 6kg wash. If you do 5washes a week that's a potentialsaving of €200 a year. That's quite aconsiderable reduction on yourelectricity bill.

As for water savings, the machineswe tested varied too greatly in whetherthey used more or less water per wash.There was no clear pattern from themachines tested.

So it turns out that theadvertising might just be right inthis case. You can save money andhelp the environment by switchingfrom 40° to 30°.

30° detergentBut what about the quality of thewash? Surely if you're switching to alower temperature, the washingresults will suffer. The last test ofwashing machines (see ConsumerChoice, August 2007, p308) showedthat cleaning ability of mostmachines at 30° was slightly worsethan at 40° because the detergenthad to work harder. As a way toencourage people to wash at a lowertemperature, some manufacturershave introduced products aimed atimproving washing results at thelower temperature, 30° washes.

Again Consumer Choice tested theseclaims. We compared the 40° washusing a standard detergent with the30° wash using a commercial 30°detergent. It is difficult to make a

Useful contacts

Electrolux Group

Electrolux

Zanussi-Electrolux

tel (01) 456 5222

www.electrolux.ie

Siemens Ireland

tel (01) 216 2402

www.siemens.ie

Whirlpool Ireland

tel (01) 623 1013

www.whirlpool.ie

Sustainable Energy

Ireland

tel (01) 836 9080

www.sei.ie

Washing Machines With results just in from the labs, Consumer Choice brings you the latest washing machines on test.

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The Choice Buy ElectroluxEWN14991W/S is availablein white or silver.

The Choice Buy ElectroluxEWN13570W/S gave goodrinsing results.

The Choice BuySiemens WM12E44Sproduced fantasticresults at lowtemperatures.

The Choice BuyWhirlpool AWO/D5516 has a delaystart featureallows you todelay your washby up to 23 hours.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 PRODUCTS152

MODEL SPECIFICATION

PRICE (€) capacity size (cm) top spin energy label cotton 40° easycare(kg) wxhxd speed (rpm) (23%) (15%)

FREESTANDING

1 Zanussi-Electrolux ZWF14581W/S a 450 7 60x84x67 1400 AAB wwwww wwwww

2 Electrolux EWN14991W/S 595/650 8 60x84x68 1400 AAA wwww wwww

3 Electrolux EWN13570W/S 459 6 59x84x70 1300 AAB wwww wwww

4 Whirlpool AWO/D 5516 440 6 59x84x58 1200 AAB wwww wwwww

5 Siemens WM12E44S 1009 6 60x85x59 1200 AAB wwww www

6 Zanussi-Electrolux ZWF12070 W/S 350 6 59x84x62 1200 AAB www wwww

7 Bosch WAS32466 b 870 8 60x84x64 1600 AAA www www

8 Bosch WAS24466 b 709 8 60x84x63 1200 AAB www www

9 Hotpoint AQGD169S 580 8 59x84x65 1600 AAA wwww www

10 Beko WMA727W 400 7 60x84x64 1200 AAB www wwww

11 Baumatic BFWE1470W 789 7 59x84x59 1400 AAA www wwww

12 Hotpoint AQXXL129 495 7.5 60x84x66 1200 AAB www www

13 Candy CM 1146 369 6 59x84x58 1400 AAA www www

14 Candy GO 1282 400 8 59x84x57 1200 AAB wwww wwww

15 Hotpoint WF321 395 6 59x84x58 1200 AAB www www

16 Hoover HNL71463D 390 6 59x84x56 1400 AAA www www

17 LG WM12336FD K 704 7.5 59x85x64 1200 AAB ww www

18 Maytag MAF9501AES/W 1184 6 59x85x61 1400 AAB ww wwwww

19 Hoover VHD8122 440 8 59x83x58 1200 AAB wwww ww

20 Indesit SIXL145 395 6 59x84x56 1400 AAB ww www

BUILT IN/COMPACT

21 Baumatic BTWM5 c 709 6 59x81x54 1100 AAC ww www

22 Bosch WLX 24162 d 609 4.5 60x85x44 1200 AAB wwww www

23 Zanussi-Electrolux ZWC1300W d 500 3 50x67x55 1300 ABB www wwwwReport by Jenny Harrow cc

direct comparison because we arecomparing different machines andsample sizes. However, thecomparison table shows us that themajority of machines showed animprovement in washing performanceat 30°, and with only two exceptions,the remainder don't show anydifference between temperaturesettings when using a 30° detergent.

Despite the differences inwashing machines and sample sizes,the results indicate that using a 30°detergent at 30° improves washingresults when compared to astandard detergent used at 40° onmost washing machines. Gettingcleaner clothes and saving theplanet? Well that's my good deedfor the day.

WHAT TO LOOK FORCapacity: The capacity of themachine tells you, in kilograms, howmuch washing will fill a full load.There's quite a choice, from a large

8kg drum, perfect for big families, toa smaller slim line 3kg drum, whichwould fit well into an apartment, ora smaller kitchen. However thestandard 6kg drum should besufficient for most homes.

Spin Speed: The spin speed gives theamount of revolutions per minute(rpm) of the drum on the spin cycle.The higher the spin, the less waterleft in your clothes at the end of thecycle. This saves time on the washingline and money if you use a tumbledryer. Most machines come with avariable spin speed, allowing you tochoose a lower setting for moredelicate clothes.

Child locks: Child locks can stopyour children opening the washingmachine door and potentiallyinjuring themselves. All of ourChoice Buys, except the SiemensWM12E44S (5), have this featureincluded.

Electronic displays: Some machinesare now equipped with an electronicor an LCD display screen, whichgives you information such as theprogram you selected, what stage thewashing program is at, and howmuch time is left in the cycle.

Energy labels: The energy label on awashing machine, and indeed allappliances, indicates the energyefficiency of the machine. Appliancesare rated from A to G, with A beingthe most energy efficient. Moreefficient models will save you moneyon your electricity bill and by usingless electricity will be kinder to theenvironment. The energy labels forwashing machines consist of threeletters. The first gives you the overallenergy efficiency of the model. Thesecond refers to the washingperformance, indicating thecleanliness of the wash based on a60° cotton wash. The third shows thespin drying efficiency.

a With JETWASH. b With WASH PLUS. c Built in model. d Compact model.

PRODUCTS APRIL 2008 consumer choice 153

WHICH? TEST PERFORMANCE SCORE %

cotton 30° cotton 40° easycare rinse spin drying energy water convenience noise (5%)(h:m) (3.5%) (h:m) (2.5%) (11%) (10%) consumption consumption( (10%)

(10%) 10%)

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wwwww 02:18 01:20 ww wwww wwww wwww wwww www 67

www 01:58 01:21 www www www wwww wwww wwww 65

n/a 01:59 01:25 ww www www wwww wwww www 64

wwwww 02:13 00:55 ww wwww www wwww wwww www 63

n/a 01:22 01:04 www www wwww wwww wwww www 61

wwww 02:19 00:56 www wwww wwww wwww wwww ww 59

wwww 02:28 00:58 www wwww wwww wwww wwww www 59

wwwww 02:53 01:10 w www wwww wwww www www 59

wwww 02:04 01:37 ww www wwww wwww wwww www 58

www 01:37 01:31 ww www wwww wwww wwww www 58

wwww 02:03 01:08 ww www wwww wwww wwww www 57

wwww 02:28 01:24 ww wwww wwww wwww wwww ww 57

www 02:42 01:29 w www wwww wwww wwww w 55

wwww 01:41 01:03 ww www www wwww wwww ww 53

wwww 01:27 00:54 www www wwww www wwww ww 52

www 01:29 01:16 www wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww 50

wwwww 01:32 01:12 w www wwwww wwww wwww ww 50

wwww 02:47 00:57 w ww www ww wwww ww 43

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www 01:23 00:56 ww ww wwww wwww wwww ww 48

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n/a 01:48 01:17 ww www ww ww wwww ww 48

USING THE TABLEThe more stars the better.

SPECIFICATIONPrice: Typical retailer’s price if

you shop around.

Capacity: The maximum load of

washing you can fit in the

machine.

Size: Hoses and any other

external equipment are

included.

Spin speed: Some machines

have adjustable spin speeds, so

we give the highest here.

Energy label: Based on a 60°

wash, these are the

manufacturer's energy

efficiency ratings for energy

efficiency, washing performance

and spin drying. 'A' is the most

energy efficient.

TEST PERFORMANCERunning cost: How expensive it

is to run the machine.

Cotton 40°: Standard 40° cotton

wash using a standard detergent.

Easycare: Standard program for

synthetics and mixed loads using

a standard detergent.

Cotton 30°: 30° cotton wash

using a commercial 30°

detergent.

Rinse: How much detergent is

left on the clothes at the end of

the cycle.

Spin drying: How much water is

left in the clothes at the end of

the cycle.

Convenience: How easy the

machine is to load and unload, to

use the detergent dispenser and

how clear the user instructions

are.

Noise: How noisy the machine is.

ALSO WORTH CONSIDERINGStuck for space?If you've just bought one of the manyapartments that have been popping up allover Ireland, or just want to save yourselfsome space then consider the Bosch WLX24162 (22). This Bosch came top of thecompact models, although didn't score quitewell enough to be a Choice Buy. It may becompact but still has an impressive 4.5kgdrum. Cleaning results were good across allwashes, particularly at 30°. And althoughwashing results were less impressive for theeasycare program, it took only 49 minutes.One problem though, it's quite noisy.

For people with disabilities:Wheelchair users should consider theZanussi-Electrolux ZWF14581W/S (1).The door opens wide, allowing you to getcloser to the machine. All controls andsettings were easy to see and access froma sitting position and indicator lightscould also be clearly seen when seated.

People with reduced mobility shouldtake a look at the Bosch WAS32466 (7).

The door can be opened with one handand little force is needed to open andclose it. The detergent dispenser tray isalso easy to open and remove, althoughit is tricky to clean if you have reducedmobility. Indicator lights are clearlyvisible from a standing position,meaning you don't need to bend downto see them.

For people with manual dexterityproblems the Bosch WAS32466 (7) alsocame out on top in the CAI tests. Little forcewas needed to open the door and controlswere easy to get a grip of and push, withonly a small amount of power required tooperate the electronic program selector.

The visually impaired should considerthe Bosch WAS24466 (8). While thisBosch came just top of the scores, all threeBosch washing machines scored highly inthis test. The dispenser is easy to fill withgood wide openings to all compartments.The indicator lights are large and bright,with the label close by, and there is a goodcontrast between labelling and thebackground, making it easier to see.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 PRODUCTS154

1 Zanussi-ElectroluxZWF14581W/S€450The Choice BuyZanussi-ElectroluxZWF14581comes in whitewith quite areasonable pricetag. It gavesuperb cleaningresults in allcategories with

both the default settings and Zanussi'sJetsystem + wash in the CAI tests. So youknow whatever wash settings you chooseyour clothes are going to come out clean. Itwas also one of the quietest machines ontest. It features a unique night washprogram, which holds the spin cycles untilmorning making it even quieter while stillallowing you to take advantage of cheaperelectricity during the night. It has an LCDscreen which allows you to clearly see whatstage in the cycle your machine is at. Thisotherwise fantastic machine is let downslightly by its rinsing so if you have asensitivity to detergent consider using anextra spin cycle.Capacity 7kg Spin speed 1400rmp Energylabel AAB 40° Cotton 2hr 03min Easycare1hr 21min Colours White Delay start Yes 20hrs

2 Electrolux EWN14991W/S €595This machine is available in white (W) at theabove price and also in silver (S) for theslightly more expensive 650. It also has thelargest drum of the Choice Buys, at 8kg,making it a good choice for large families.While the 40° and easycare washesproduced excellent results this machinereally shone on the 30° program, allowingyou to save electricity and money. Spindrying was also impressive, meaning ashorter drying time once the clothes are outof the machine. This Electrolux is alsoequipped with a Time Manager facilityallowing you to adapt the length of thewashing cycle to the time you have

available. It also has a handy LCD display.Capacity 8kg Spin speed 1400rpm Energy label AAA 40° Cotton 2hr 18minEasycare 1hr 20min Colours White, silverDelay start Yes 20hrs

3 Electrolux EWN13570W/S €459The Choice Buy Electrolux EWN13570WSgives excellent cleaning results on the 40°and easycare washes, but is let downslightly by the 30° cycle. It does howevergive good rinsing results, important forremoving as much detergent from yourclothes as possible. The machine alsofeatures a drum which is tilted slightlybackwards, allowing for easier loading andunloading, and is one of the quietermachines we tested. It has an LCD screen tokeep you up-to-date on the wash progress.As with the other Choice Buy Electrolux (2),this machine features Time Manager,allowing you to choose the length of time forthe wash.Capacity 6kgSpin speed 1300rpmEnergy label AAB 40° Cotton 1hr 58minEasycare 1hr 21minColours White Delay start Yes 20hrs

4 Whirlpool AWO/D 5516€440This Choice Buy Whirlpoolgave excellent cleaningresults on the easycarecycle. The 40° cycle alsoproduced good results. Thedelay start feature allowsyou to delay your wash byup to 23 hours, the longest of all our ChoiceBuys. This allows you to take advantage ofcheaper electricity during the night. The LCDdisplay tells you how long is left before thewash is ready. It has a 30 minute quick washprogram, among others, allowing you toquickly wash lightly soiled items. It was alsoquiet on both the wash and spin cycles.Capacity 6kg Spin speed 1200rpm Energy label AAB 40° Cotton 1hr 59minEasycare 1hr 25min Colours White Delay start Yes 23hrs

5 Siemens WM12E44S €1009This Siemens is the most expensive of ourChoice Buy washing machines, costingnearly twice as much as most of the otherChoice Buys. It produced fantastic results atlow temperatures which is great if you wantto switch to 30° without compromisingcleaning efficiency. If you're in a hurry, theeasycare cycle takes just 55 minutes,although cleaning results aren't quite asimpressive for this cycle. It comes in astainless steel finish and is very stylishlooking, much more elegant than some ofits white counterparts. It has an LCD screenthat allows you to keep an eye on washprogress. Despite the price this machinemight be for those of you who don't want tocompromise on cleaning performance to geta great looking machine.Capacity 6kg Spin speed 1200rpm Energylabel AAB 40° Cotton 2hr 13min Easycare55min Colours Silver Delay start Yes 19hrs

6 Zanussi-ElectroluxZWF12070W/S€350This is thecheapest of ourChoice Buys, yetstill gives greatcleaning results, soit's perfect if you'reon a budget. Iteven givesadequate rinsing,removing moredetergent from theclothes than othermachines, which is

important for people with sensitive skin. It’squick, with the easycare cycle taking just overan hour. As with our other Zanussi-Electrolux(1) Choice Buy, it has a night wash programwhich allows you to wait until the morning toenter the noisier spin cycle. This is a greatfeature if you live in an apartment, as it won'tdisturb yours or anyone elses sleep.Capacity 6kg Spin speed 1200rpm Energy label AAB 40° Cotton 1hr 22minEasycare 1hr 04min Colours White, silverDelay start Yes 9hrs

choice buys

Since we last brought you a report on washing machines (see Consumer Choice, August 2007, p308) we have changed the types of soilings, or stains, used in theCAI tests. Consumer Choice is now using, among others, blood, milk, ink and olive oil. These soilings are added to specially prepared cloth which is put into thewash with shirts, towels, pillowcases and other items.

To measure how much of these soilings have been removed, after three wash cycles a spectrophotometer is used to see how much light now penetrates thesoils and therefore how much of the soil has been removed.

THE LENGTHS WE GO TO…

The Choice BuyZanussi-ElectroluxZWF14581W/S gavesuperb cleaningresults in allcategories.

The Choice Buy Zanussi-ElectroluxZWF12070W/S has an easycare cyclethat takes just over an hour.

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MSG is not the only flavour enhancer,but it ranks high in usage. Foodadditives in the Irish food supply weremonitored from 1995-1999 and MSGwas found to be the most commonlyused flavour enhancer.

MSG can be added to savouryprocessed foods, such as powderedsauces and soups and snack foods likecrisps. It has been traditionally usedin eastern cuisine such as Thai,Japanese and Chinese food. MSG canalso be seen on food labels as the Enumber, E621.

Glutamate Glutamate or glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid. It is one oftwenty amino acids that make upprotein and is found in many foods,such as meat, fish, dairy products andsome vegetables. Glutamate iscombined with sodium to form thecrystalline powder, MSG.

There are two forms of glutamate,free and bound. Bound glutamate isattached to other amino acids. It is thefree form that is used in MSG. Whenglutamate occurs naturally in food thereis usually much more bound than freeglutamate in the food. There are someexceptions as glutamate can also beconverted to the free form. Fermentedfoods, such as soy sauce and yeastextract, and mature cheeses, such asparmesan contain higher levels of freeglutamate than other foods.

MSG enhances the taste of foods asfree glutamate acts on glutamatereceptors in the tongue. The tongue has

four flavour receptors: sweet, sour, saltand bitter. MSG was first isolated as afood additive in Japan, and itscharacteristic savoury or meaty taste wasnamed ‘unami’, where it is consideredthe fifth taste.

MSG politicsThere are opposing opinions on adversereactions to MSG. Some people may besensitive to MSG and claim to haveexperienced symptoms such asheadache, nausea, chest tightness andheart palpitations. This has beendubbed the ‘Chinese RestaurantSyndrome’. It has also been suggestedthat the evidence is anecdotal and thatthere is no reliable scientific evidencethat links these symptoms with MSGconsumption. Those who do not seeMSG as safe have suggested thatresearch into MSG, and its ill-effects,have links with the food industry andtheir results are selective.

SafetyIn the average daily diet, MSGcontributes to a small amount of thetotal quantity of glutamate consumed.

So, if this substance is alreadysomething we regularly consume, isthere a real cause for concern? Freeglutamate, which is found in MSG, isabsorbed more quickly in the bodythan bound glutamate. This is whereconcern lies, as glutamate is aneurotransmitter, a chemical that allowsmessages to pass between a nerve celland other cells. It is also classed as anexcitotoxin, which can over-activateneurons and cause damage.

In 2007, in the European Journal ofClinical Nutrition, the issue was raisedthat there is a lack of consensussurrounding safe levels of MSG. But EUsafety reviews of MSG have deemed thisadditive safe, at the levels it is currentlyused in foods (see also ‘Food additives’,Consumer Choice, November 2007, p416).The European Communities ScientificCommittee for Foods produced a reportin 1991 that reaffirmed MSG’s safety andclassified its acceptable daily intake as‘not specified’, the most favourabledesignation for a food ingredient.

Monosodium GlutamateShould consumers be more concerned about some food additives than others? We take a look at onecontroversial additive, the flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Although this additive is deemed safe by the EFSA at the levels it is currently used in foods,some consumers may still have an intolerance of this additive, so some caution is advised. Ifconsumers are concerned about their salt intake, look out for MSG in foods as it contains onethird of the sodium of table salt. One use for MSG is to enhance the flavour of processed foods,which are often not the best source of nutrition. Our taste buds can be fooled into thinking theflavour enhanced food is a great tasting food, when without the MSG consumers might notchoose the processed, flavour enhanced food.

choice commentAT A GLANCE

E621.

Snack foods.

Glutamate.

Report by Aisling Murtagh cc

Useful contacts

Food Safety Authority

of Ireland

Abbey Court

Lower Abbey Street

Dublin 1

Advice Line 1890 336

677

tel (01) 817 1300

fax (01) 817 1301

email info@fsai.ie

www.fsai.ie

Irish Nutrition and

Dietetic Association

Ashgrove House

Kill Avenue

Dun Laoghaire

Co. Dublin

email info@indi.ie

www.indi.ie

Useful website

Food-Info

www.food-info.net

F O O D

155FOOD APRIL 2008 consumer choice

consumerchoice APRIL 2008 CURRENTS156

Consumer

currentsToshiba recently announced that it woulddiscontinue its HD-DVD players and recordersfrom March 2008, ceding the high definitionmarket to the Blu-ray format promoted bySony, Philips, Samsung and others. Thecompany claimed that a swift decision todiscontinue was the best way for the market todevelop, but it has promised to continue toprovide full product support and after-salesservice for consumers who have alreadybought HD-DVD products.

The HD-DVD format was developed in 2002,and quickly became a major contender for theposition of successor to DVD in the high-definition market. Its big advantage was thatthe discs were considerably sturdier than theirBlu-ray rivals. Competition heated up, withmany of the major US movie studios aligning

exclusively with one format or the other forhigh definition sales. Eventually, Sony’sincorporation of Blu-ray technology into itsPlaystation 3 proved a decisive tactic,pushing software sales three to one in favour of Blu-ray.

While several unsuccessful attempts hadbeen made to resolve the format war, fromdual-format players to proposals for a ‘TotalHD’ disc that could be played by any machine,the final straw came in January 2008 whenWarner Studios elected to work exclusivelywith Blu-ray. The announcement was quicklyfollowed by news that UK retailers Woolworths,and US giants Best Buy, Netflix and Wal-Martwould no longer stock HD-DVD. Toshibaadmitted defeat, but will continue to marketconventional DVD players and recorders.

The demise of HD-DVD

The iPhone has finally arrived in Ireland, but itwill only be available to interested consumersthrough one network – O2.

The technological advances of the iPhonehave been much admired; it provides a neatcombination of a mobile phone, a widescreeniPod and a mobile Internet device, allcontrolled by an easy-to-use touch-screen,and compatible with either Mac or PC.However, it seems unlikely that the costsinvolved will meet a similar reaction. Not onlyare the handsets themselves extremelyexpensive (starting at €399 for the 8GBmodel and €499 for the 16GB alternative) butthey are only available on one of threemonthly tariffs, starting from €45.

O2 is also the only provider for iPhone inthe UK, but a quick comparison of the tariff

plans show that UK customers are getting afar better deal. An Irish customer on the €45euro per month tariff gets 175 anytime talkminutes, 100 free texts and 1GB data use.There is no visual voicemail. An equivalent UKcustomer paying £35 (€45.57) gets 600 talkminutes, 500 free texts, unlimited data useand visual voicemail. An Irish consumer on the€100 monthly tariff gets 700 talk minutes,250 free texts and 1GB data use. His UKequivalent, paying £75 (€97.65) per month,gets 3000 talk minutes, 500 free texts,unlimited data, and visual voicemail.

O2 says the iPhone plans are comparableto its other price plans, and that the UKmarket is very different to Ireland’s. That maybe so, but we’re really not sure that it justifiessuch a huge difference in value for money.

Ireland recently saw its first prosecution for false labelling oforganic food, brought by the Department of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food under the European Communities(Organic Farming) Regulations 2004 against a Cork traderwho mislabelled non-organic turkey as organic in the run-upto Christmas. Marc O'Mahony, who traded as The OrganicShop in the city’s well-known English Market at the time ofthe offence, pleaded guilty in Cork District Court and wasfined €2,500.

The Department of Agriculture has announced that itsofficials are now regularly inspecting farmers' markets andshops that stock organic food. This is good news forconsumers, who have long been concerned at a seeming lackof enforcement in the sector. While increasing numbers ofIrish consumers are happy to pay more for organic produce,they must rely on the integrity of the trader to guarantee thatwhat they are paying extra for is really what they are getting.

Trevor Sargent, the Minister of State for Food andHorticulture, has urged members of the public to report

suspicious incidents to the Organic Unit, which can becontacted by phone on lo-call 1890 200 509, or by email atorganics@agriculture.gov.ie. For further details, look out forour report on organic food in an upcoming issue.

Organic outrage

iPhone arrives

Currents by Margaret Brady cc

CURRENTS APRIL 2008 consumerchoice 157

Nanocosmetics

Copyright copycat

We all know that make-upinvolves a ‘science bit’, but whathappens when the safety of thescience bit comes into question?

The use of nanotechnology –manipulating substances at themolecular level - in cosmetics hasbeen around since theintroduction of moisturisers withliposome technology more than40 years ago. Of course, thingshave become a lot more high-tech since then, and just onemodern example is the use ofsynthetic nanocarriers to helpVitamin E, a protective anti-oxidant, absorb more deeply intothe hair and skin than would beotherwise possible. It sounds likea great idea – but the EU hashighlighted that stricter healthrisk assessment may be needed.

To explain: there are two typesof nanoparticle. Labilenanoparticles disintegrate whenapplied to the skin in their

molecular components, and forthese, conventional riskassessment is thought to besufficient. However, insolublenanoparticles give cause forconcern, as they are taken intothe body and do not breakdown, leading to the risk ofpossible accumulation in theorgans, or of transmission to afoetus via the placenta. Theimplications of such risks areunknown, leading the EuropeanCommission's ScientificCommittee on ConsumerProducts (SCCP) to call forstricter risk assessment in thearea.

While nanotechnologies holdgreat possibilities for consumers,and not only in the area ofcosmetics, safety is crucial, andthe SCCP’s caution in urgingmore detailed risk assessmentdespite industry lobbying mustbe seen as commendable.

In a move that has been warmly welcomed by the music industry,EU internal markets commissioner Charlie McCreevy hasproposed extending the ownership rights for performers ofrecorded music from 50 years to 95 years, bringing EU law in linewith the USA. Currently, composers of music enjoy a term ofcopyright that extends for their whole lifetime and 70 years afterdeath, while a performer’s copyright lasts for 50 years.

Although Commissioner McCreevy claims that the move‘should not impact on consumer prices’, it is clear that it wouldgive record companies a greater degree of control over music ontheir back catalogues, enabling them to dictate prices of classichits for far longer than at present.

The proposal also claims that the main beneficiaries of acopyright extension would be the ‘thousands of anonymoussession musicians who contributed to sound recordings in the latefifties and sixties’, now relying on royalties as their sole pension.However, the Gowers Review on Intellectual Property 2006, basedon economic analysis carried out at Cambridge University andbacked by the UK Government, concluded that copying US law inthis area would be most likely to benefit major record labels and their shareholders, rather than retired and unappreciatedjobbing musicians.

The proposal is likely to be considered by the EU in the comingmonths, but would be unlikely to be enforced before 2010.

S E R V I C E S

RTÉ recently decided to close its

medium wave service, stating that the

technology offers poor value for

money, is environmentally unsound

and out of date, and has poor quality

reception and audio. The broadcaster

also points out that no other Irish

station broadcasts on MW.

From the end of March, MW

audiences can continue to listen to

the same RTÉ Radio 1 programmes

on FM. Listeners who tune into MW

specifically for additional RTÉ Radio

1 programming such as weekday

sports broadcasts and religious

services will find those programmes

on LW (long wave) 252 and a range

of digital platforms.

RTÉ's MW service has been running

since 1926. Listeners began to leave

MW when FM was introduced in the

1970s. Today more than 90% of RTÉ

Radio 1 listening is on FM, RTÉ claims.

“In addition, the growth of new

platforms such as podcasting, mobile

phones and digital radio mean that

radio audiences have a much wider

choice of when and how to listen,” the

broadcaster said.

JP Coakley, head of operations at

RTÉ Radio, told Consumer Choice: "Our

audience research tells us that MW

listening is largely based on habit

rather than necessity. Our job now is

to convince MW listeners that there are

other ways to listen that are as good as,

if not better, than Medium Wave.

According to RTÉ, its Radio 1's LW

252 service was introduced in 2004

and was upgraded in 2007. The signal

carries considerably further than MW.

“This is especially relevant to the

maritime community and the Irish

community in Britain.”

In late January, RTÉ launched a

public information campaign on the

changes, which includes MW

announcements, newsletters and press

releases for listeners, representative

bodies and stakeholder groups, and

an information number to call for

assistance on tuning to FM. It also

offers a voucher scheme providing

half-price FM/LW radios for those

most in need.

So what’s the problem?On the face of it, this decision seems a

reasonable one in light of the better

alternative transmission technologies

available. It also seems prudent in

budgetary terms, as resources that

would be spent on this service are

being re-invested elsewhere. It costs

RTÉ €1.5 million per annum to power

the MW transmission network.

However, RTÉ’s decision has been

criticised by several sources, who say

that the station is abdicating its public

service responsibility to those listeners

who depend on MW services,

including those at sea and those living

in rural areas, Northern Ireland and

further afield where FM services cannot

be accessed.

The Emigrant Advice Network (EAN)

claims that the medium wave signal

also reaches Northern France and the

Benelux countries, and interference on

the long-wave signal means that for

some people, Radio 1 comes in better

on the AM (medium wave) dial.

Furthermore, a former RTÉ staffer

and member of the EAN, Enda O’Kane,

says that by pulling the plug on MW so

quickly, RTÉ has abandoned a

principle that says when a new

technical standard is being introduced,

it is vital to maintain the existing one

during the transition period to allow

the public time to switch over.

Closure of RTÉ’s MW serviceRTÉ Radio ceased its medium wave (MW) service on 24th March 2008. Is this a prudent decision made in

the interests of efficiency, or has the national broadcaster abandoned its public service remit?

consumer choice APRIL 2008 SERVICES158

Report by

John Cradden cc

choice commentThe central criticism about RTÉ’s unilateral decision to switch off the MW service is not that it

was not a valid decision in the interests of cutting costs and improving efficiency, but that it

did not engage in consultation with its various stakeholders over the decision, never mind

allow MW listeners enough time to make the transition to other platforms.

We agree. After all, the CAI and others have been extensively involved in a consultation

process regarding the introduction of digital terrestrial television and radio. The MW service

was still appreciated by many, particularly by senior citizens who valued it above FM for its

reception reliability and ease of use.

AT A GLANCE

Medium wave.

Loss of service.

Lack ofconsultation.

AAdverts, misleading Feb 44

Feb 77Airline tickets, online Jan 36Alfa Romeo,

159 SportWagon Jan 28Anaemia Jan 21Aquaculture ecolabel Jan 4Audi, A4 Jan 28

A6 Jan 25

BBank charges Jan 15Beef, brazilian import Mar 98Bin charges Feb 58Biscuit recall Jan 37BMW, 3 series Jan 26

5 series Jan 25Books, author royalties Feb 77Breakdown services Jan 5Broadband speed Jan 10

CCAI, membership number Mar 84

survey Jan 4Car breakdown services Jan 5Charity, donations Mar 118Chocolate Feb 76Chrysler, 300c Jan 28Coins, fake euro Jan 37Computer, laptop Feb 44

shortcuts Mar 120Condenser dryers Jan 29

Consumer rights Jan 40Cordless telephones Mar 110Cosmetic surgery Feb 45Current accounts Jan 15Customs, laptop Mar 84

DDetergent, laundry Mar 113Dishwashers Jan 33Donations, charitable Mar 118

EeBay Feb 58Elderly,

financial entitlements Jan 38EU, Consumer

Commissioner Mar 84‘Market Watch’ Mar 117

Euro, fake coins Jan 37

FFair trade Mar 101Financial spring clean Jan 38Fire safety Jan 36Food, GM Mar 85

labels, traffic light Jan 8

Ford, Focus Jan 27Mondeo Jan 26

Fruit, free in schools Mar 84

GGenetic modification Mar 85

Glycaemic index Feb 78Greenwash Mar 117

Guideline daily amounts Jan 8

HHaemochromatosis Jan 21Hallmark, metal Mar 116

Honda, Accord Jan 26

IImport, brazilian beef Mar 98Income Tax Guide Feb 48

Ingredients lists Mar 84

Internet, Providers Jan 10Iron supplements Jan 21

JJuice Jan 18

KKettles Feb 73

LLabels, food, traffic light Jan 8

juice Jan 18Laptop, computers Feb 44

customs Mar 84

Laundry, liquid detergent Mar 113Libraries, lending rights Feb 77

Loans, personal Mar 92

MMedicine, traditional Feb 44Mercedes-Benz, E-Class Jan 25Mercury Feb 76Metal hallmark Mar 116Microwaves Mar 104Minerals, iron Jan 21Motor rescue Jan 5

NNational Heritage Week Feb 44Nissan, Note Jan 28Nutrition, juice Jan 18

labelling Jan 8pregnancy Mar 117

OObesity, White Paper Jan 37Online, airline tickets Jan 36

auctions Feb 58telephone calls Mar 89

Jan 10Opel (Vauxhall), Meriva Jan 28

Vectra estate Jan 28Over-50s Show, RDS Mar 116

PPaint, masonry Mar 114Personal finance Jan 38

loans Mar 95Pregnancy, nutrition Mar 116

Product recall, biscuits Jan 37mugs, Starbucks Mar 84

RRefuse collection Feb 61Renault,

Laguna Sport Tourer Jan 28Megane Jan 27Modus Jan 28

SSafety, fire Jan 36

mugs Mar 84Satellite navigation Feb 65

TTax Guide, Income Feb 48Telephone, area codes Feb 76

cordless Mar 110online Mar 89

Toasters Feb 69Toyota, Avensis Jan 26Trains, passenger rights Feb 55Tumble dryers Jan 29

VVented tumble dryers Jan 29

WWater purification Mar 92What am I to do?

see all outside back coversWireless technology Mar 107

IndexIndexes are printed in the April, July, October and December issues of Consumer Choice. This index covers 2008 reports in the January to March issues of Consumer Choice (seeContents on p123 for reports in this issue). A full index for 2005-07 was published on p472 of the December 2007 issue. Reports of one page or more are listed in bold type;shorter items are in ordinary type.

INDEX APRIL 2008 consumerchoice 159

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In last month’s issue ofConsumer Choice our feature onBrazilian beef looked at thisdebate from the consumerperspective, focusing on themany changes that have occurredin the past year. We noted thatthis issue is one to watch closely– and we have been doing justthat. Since publication, thetemporary EU ban was partiallylifted, with 106 Brazilian farmsapproved for import of beef intothe EU. This number has sincebeen reduced to 95. Brazil is avast country and it has beensuggested that this number offarms is not feasible from aneconomic viewpoint.The Brazilian Beef InformationService, which represents theBrazilian Beef Industry ExportersAssociation (ABIEC) in Europehas stated that Brazilian beefcan clearly meet EU standards.The final outcome remains tobe seen.

Brazilian beef update

Healthy householdI’ve heard that mould can make people sick.How can I prevent this from happening in my house?

Mould is a significant health hazard, but manypeople still overlook the possibility in their ownhomes. Mould lingering around the house in hardto reach places could make you and your familysick, so here are a few things to look out for: • Leaks around the house are a primary cause

of mould, so ensure that appliances that usewater (dishwasher, refrigerator, pipes) aren’tleaking.

• Make sure to use fans when in the bathroomand kitchen, or keep the windows open,because steam will coat the rooms inmoisture.

• Serious cases may require the use ofdehumidifiers or air conditioning to reduce therisk of mould and keep down the levels ofmoisture in the air.

Mould essentially survives on moisture, soreducing the moisture in your house will limit therisk of mould.

If you do detect mould, scrubbing with waterand bleach is the standard way to get rid of it,but if there is an unmanageable amount it may bebest to seek the advice of a professional.

Safety hazardsHow can I minimise fire hazards andother safety risks in my house?

Spring cleaning is a good opportunity tocheck potential safety risks and takepreventative action.

Problems such as fire hazards,carbon monoxide, and pests are alleasily taken care of as long as they aredealt with early. Here’s a list of thingsto keep in mind:• Make sure no appliance or heater

wires are frayed or exposed.• Check that flammable liquids are

kept well away from heat.• If you have a fireplace make sure it

has a fireguard.• Check your smoke detectors and

carbon monoxide detectors, andreplace the batteries if you haven’tdone so in a while.

• Keep an eye out for small holes inthe wall that may signal mice orother infestations.

• Take care to close all foodcontainers and to clean up after meals, as open food will attract pests.

consumer choice APRIL 2008 COUNSEL

Whatam I to do?

160

Too much stuffI’ve got a build-up of old toysand furniture and I don’t knowwhat to do with it all. How canI get rid of all the stuff I’veaccumulated over the years?

There are a number of easy waysto dispose of unwanted belongingswithout simply throwing themaway. The internet can be your firstport of call. Why not just open upan eBay account and make somemoney from your household junk?

Alternatively, Jumbletown,Freecycle and DublinWaste arewebsites where you give awayunwanted items rather thanselling them. The benefit isconvenience; you don’t need to doanything but place theadvertisement, and whoeverwants the item will take care of the rest.

And if you’re not an onlineexpert, just take it all down to acharity shop, which will be happyto take any working items ofsaleable quality.

We offer a few tips to help you with your spring cleaning.

Report by Justin Paulsen cc