0:00:03 > 0:00:05Take a look around your home.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Can you be sure that every appliance is safe?
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Is everything a company tells you about a product true?
0:00:17 > 0:00:20And are you getting the best value for your money?
0:00:21 > 0:00:25With the help of the country's top experts, we are going to see
0:00:25 > 0:00:29what it takes to test the household products we use every day.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35We will discover how they are pushed to their limits.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40We will put the makers' claims on trial.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45And show you how to make your money go further.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48You will find these products in any ordinary house,
0:00:48 > 0:00:53but this is no ordinary house. And no ordinary street.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56This is the Watchdog Test House.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Hello, we're deep inside one of Britain's leading science centres.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Here at the Building Research Establishment,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13some of the products and materials that we use every day
0:01:13 > 0:01:16are put to the test, to make sure that they are safe,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19environmentally-friendly and that they don't fall apart.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Coming up on today's programme...
0:01:23 > 0:01:25what's in your food?
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Not always what you think.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31So I spat out whatever it was and I saw it was a small
0:01:31 > 0:01:33piece of glass with a really sharp point on it.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36What the big manufacturers are doing to stop bugs
0:01:36 > 0:01:38and foreign bodies getting in there.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44The household product that looks harmless, but could be lethal.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I realised it was the blind cord because she was in the corner
0:01:47 > 0:01:51of the bed, she was very limp and she just looked like a rag doll.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56And confused by all those extreme mascara claims?
0:01:56 > 0:02:00We put some big brands through some extreme testing.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04If either of these mascaras work for me, I will definitely buy them.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Pizzas, cakes, cereals.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16We spend billions on packaged foods every year.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19After all, they are convenient and can offer great value for money.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23And whilst we might accept varying levels of quality in what
0:02:23 > 0:02:28we buy, we do expect a certain standard of hygiene and safety.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32But unfortunately, sometimes those standards fall short.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Feeling squeamish? Then look away now.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40A caterpillar in some frozen peas. An insect in some fish.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44This piece of metal in some dried fruit and nuts.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Even a live fly found in the stir fry.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51How do the bugs and unexplained objects get in there?
0:02:53 > 0:02:56A question Katie Barron wanted answered after buying
0:02:56 > 0:02:59a bag of baby leaf spinach from Sainsbury's.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02I was just sitting down, eating my dinner,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and then the next moment, I just felt something really hard
0:03:05 > 0:03:10in my mouth, so I kind of just, you know, spat out whatever it was.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14And then the next minute I saw it was a small piece of glass,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17like, that big, but with a really sharp point on it.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19And so I was obviously really shocked
0:03:19 > 0:03:22and I couldn't quite understand how that had got in there.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Katie sent the sample off to Sainsbury's, who said
0:03:25 > 0:03:28that despite having machines in place to prevent foreign bodies
0:03:28 > 0:03:30passing through their production process,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34on this occasion the glass may have been obscured by some spinach leaves.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36It was quite laughable, really,
0:03:36 > 0:03:41because isn't the whole point of the machine to stop that from happening?
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Sainsbury's offered Katie a £20 gift voucher
0:03:45 > 0:03:49and promised to work hard to make sure this doesn't happen again.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52But what about the things in our food that we can't see?
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Millions of beef burgers on sale at several supermarkets in the UK
0:03:58 > 0:04:01and Ireland are being pulled off the shelves after food safety
0:04:01 > 0:04:04officials found they contained horse meat.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09Last January's horse meat scandal caused shock waves when tests
0:04:09 > 0:04:13revealed a number of products were not what they said on the label.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18Horse meat was found in burgers, ready meals and tinned beef.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Something had to change.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23I am keen that more of this is tested on its way through
0:04:23 > 0:04:26the process, and less is taken on trust that
0:04:26 > 0:04:29the piece of paper attached to the pallet is correct.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31As a result of the horse meat scandal,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35manufacturers have introduced tests to prevent this from happening again.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Later in the programme, we will see exactly what that means
0:04:39 > 0:04:42for one of the largest food manufacturers in the UK
0:04:42 > 0:04:46and one not implicated in the horse meat scandal, Premier Foods.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Volumising, lengthening, curling and waterproofing, it seems
0:04:54 > 0:04:59there is nothing that a mascara can't do for your eyelashes these days.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03But are the products that make such bold claims really any better
0:05:03 > 0:05:06than the mascaras that don't make any claim that all?
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Let's find out.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12First up, Sophie, those lengthening mascaras.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Today's products are the three mascaras we could find on the
0:05:15 > 0:05:19high street that make the strongest claims when it comes to lengthening.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Sleek Mascara Lethal Length.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Do you dare to build your lashes to lethal lengths?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30It boasts an ability to lengthen to the extreme.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33And No7's Extreme Length Extend.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37They say this is their most extreme length mascara, complete with
0:05:37 > 0:05:38lash-extending fibres.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42We will be comparing these to a basic Collection 2000 Colour
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Lash Mascara, which makes no claims about lengthening at all.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Here is Dr Laura to explain how lengthening mascaras work.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54One of the most interesting ingredients of the mascaras
0:05:54 > 0:05:56is the polymer-based compounds which are in there.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Here we have some polymer. You can see it's quite thick and gloopy.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04What you can do is dry it out in a thin chain,
0:06:04 > 0:06:08so imagine if you apply the mascara to your eye, you drag it out
0:06:08 > 0:06:11and that creates an extra bit of polymer to the end
0:06:11 > 0:06:16of your eyelash, it should, in theory, add length to your lashes.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19So, that's the theory. But what about the practice?
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Time to look at some of the fake eyelashes in close-up.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26What we are going to do is apply some mascara to some of those
0:06:26 > 0:06:30eyelashes, and then we can compare the before and after to see
0:06:30 > 0:06:33if there's been a change in the length.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36We start with a product that makes no claims about length.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40You can see from here, it's quite obvious that the length
0:06:40 > 0:06:43of the fake eyelashes with no product on
0:06:43 > 0:06:48is really similar to the length of the eyelashes with the product on.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49OK, that's hardly a surprise.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52But what about the products that do make claims about length,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55like this one, the Sleek Mascara?
0:06:55 > 0:06:59There is one lash in there which is slightly elongated, and that
0:06:59 > 0:07:03could be the polymer chain coming out and creating that longer lash.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06But there's not a significant increase in length.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Now the L'Oreal Telescopic.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Again, there is no significant increase in length,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14and it's a similar story with the No7.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16There was no clear winner.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19There wasn't a dramatic difference with any of the products.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23So, under a microscope, there doesn't appear to be any real
0:07:23 > 0:07:25difference when it comes to length.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27But the testing is not over yet.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31We are going to take our test to where it really counts.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Barbara, Joelle and Vada know a thing or two about make-up.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38They are students from the East London Beauty Academy.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Mascara is really important to me.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43I struggle to leave the house without it.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45I am using mascara every day.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It's a really important routine when I am doing my make-up.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52We've asked each of them to apply one of the mascaras that
0:07:52 > 0:07:55make the biggest claims about length onto the lashes on one eye,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59and the basic Collection 2000 mascara, which makes no claims,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03on the other. Joelle is using L'Oreal Telescopic.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Vada is using No7 and Barbara is using Sleek.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10We then take a photo of each of them and head off to Surrey Quays
0:08:10 > 0:08:13to see if shoppers are able to spot the difference.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17This one, I think, is slightly longer than that one.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18This one looks longest.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I can't see any difference in that one.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23They look the same, to be honest.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Of the 20 people we asked, many could not tell the difference.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Only eight could spot the expensive Sleek Mascara, which made
0:08:30 > 0:08:31big claims about lengthening,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34and was applied to the left-hand side of the picture.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Again, less than half the people we asked managed to correctly
0:08:38 > 0:08:41identify that the L'Oreal mascara was actually applied to the lashes
0:08:41 > 0:08:43on the right of the picture.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46And only four could tell that the No7 product was in fact
0:08:46 > 0:08:49the mascara on the left side of the picture.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52So, is it really worth paying as much as £10 more for mascaras
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- which make these bold claims?- I don't think it makes any difference.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00When it comes to length, then I don't think it matters what you use.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Because going by these pictures, it's really irrelevant.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07It just says that the more expensive one doesn't always work out.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Of course, our tests are just a snapshot.
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Boots and L'Oreal told us
0:09:11 > 0:09:14that all claims are backed up with their robust,
0:09:14 > 0:09:15independent testing and research
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and that their own consumer tests found that the vast majority
0:09:18 > 0:09:22of women agreed with the statements made in their advertising.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25But what about those products that claim to offer
0:09:25 > 0:09:26extreme waterproofing?
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Yes, we'll be putting those to the test later.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Now, blind cords.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43You'll find them in bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and kitchens.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Millions of us use them every day without a second thought.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51But what if I told you they have never had to undergo mandatory
0:09:51 > 0:09:56safety tests, and despite appearing to be harmless, they can kill?
0:09:56 > 0:09:57Here's Lynn Faulds Wood.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01Welcome to Watchdog.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05In tonight's programme, all these people have written to us.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- ON TV:- Thanks to you and eagle-eyed Trading Standards officers...
0:10:11 > 0:10:14'Watchdog has exposed the many products that could pose a risk
0:10:14 > 0:10:18'to small children over the years. From toys with small parts...'
0:10:18 > 0:10:21This one's buttons are actually held on with open pins.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26'..To buggies that could chop off children's fingertips.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30'But the dangers of some things can be much less obvious.'
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Take this, the commonest way we make blinds in our homes go up and down.
0:10:36 > 0:10:37It's a cord with a loop.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Chances are, if you have got these, you haven't given them
0:10:40 > 0:10:41a second thought.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45But a cord like this could not just injure a child,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47it could actually strangle them.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51When Joy Edwards was pregnant with twins,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54she decided to invest in a new blind for their bedroom.
0:10:54 > 0:11:00A few months later, Joy gave birth to a boy, Lewis, and a girl, Leah.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05If anyone would have an accident, I'd expect my son, Lewis.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07He was the one that was inquisitive,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10he was the one that would always try something first.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Three or four weeks later, we might expect Leah to have a try.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19But on the morning of October 10th, 2010, Joy was woken by her
0:11:19 > 0:11:24elder son Christian, saying Leah had something wrapped round her neck.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Joy rushed to the twins' bedroom.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Then I realised it was the blind cord because she was in the corner
0:11:30 > 0:11:35of the bed, she was very limp and she just looked like a rag doll.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Leah had caught her neck in the looped cord of the blind
0:11:38 > 0:11:42hanging near her cot. It easily supported her weight
0:11:42 > 0:11:44and she was unable to free herself.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47I laid her down, started to do CPR.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53The next minute I remember is my husband taking over.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I was a bit hysterical at that point.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00And then later, it seemed like ages but it wasn't that long,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04we went off with the police to Chelmsford.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08And that's when she was pronounced...that she had died.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10They couldn't resuscitate her.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Tragedies like this are all too common.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19There have been 27 deaths that we know about involving looped
0:12:19 > 0:12:22blind cords since 1999.
0:12:22 > 0:12:2614 deaths in the last three years alone.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Sophie Parslow was one of them.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34She died last June at just 17 months.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37I mean, I only went to the toilet.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Everyone leaves their little one, just to go and pop to
0:12:41 > 0:12:42the toilet,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46but it's just something you never imagine ever happening.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50She was still in her pyjamas. She was watching Peppa Pig.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54And then she was just gone.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02In spite of the serious dangers posed by looped blind cords,
0:13:02 > 0:13:06and pressure from bereaved parents calling for them to be banned,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08progress has been slow.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has been campaigning
0:13:12 > 0:13:15on the dangers of blind cords since 2004.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19But it has taken years to get manufacturers to install
0:13:19 > 0:13:20safety devices.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24This is a blind which we have recently purchased which comes
0:13:24 > 0:13:27with two safety devices fitted.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32The main one is this device here, which is designed to attach
0:13:32 > 0:13:36it to the wall so that the blind cord itself is kept taut, making it
0:13:36 > 0:13:38more difficult for the child to get
0:13:38 > 0:13:41his or her head inside it.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44There's also a break cord device which has been fitted here.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49And a certain amount of pressure will ping that.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Many companies now also design blinds that don't have a cord at all.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57This is a remotely-controlled electric blind.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Wind and spring-operated blinds are also available.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06But by far the most significant change is happening this year.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11A new European standard is being introduced which will ensure
0:14:11 > 0:14:14that any new product coming onto the market will not just have
0:14:14 > 0:14:16to have a safety device fitted,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20it will also have to undergo a wider series of safety tests.
0:14:20 > 0:14:25There is a whole test regime now which involves UV testing,
0:14:25 > 0:14:26wear-out testing,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29impact testing and small parts.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33And of course, the key thing of that is the load under which that will
0:14:33 > 0:14:36break, which in the standards is six kilos.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40Six kilos, of course, is the weight of a small child.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44We can only hope the new European standard
0:14:44 > 0:14:48comes as something of a relief to bereaved parents. But is it enough?
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Some would like to see an end
0:14:50 > 0:14:54to looped blind cords like these altogether.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58But that is not about to happen any time soon.
0:14:58 > 0:15:03Blind manufacturers insists a looped cord is still the best solution
0:15:03 > 0:15:07for blinds in some less dangerous locations,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11like high level windows, where they are safely out of reach.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Now, washing powders, capsules, tablets, liquids -
0:15:19 > 0:15:23they promise to do everything from ridding your clothes of stains
0:15:23 > 0:15:25to making your whites whiter
0:15:25 > 0:15:28and leaving your clothes feeling wonderfully clean.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32But with prices ranging from 10p per wash to 37p,
0:15:32 > 0:15:36which product is going to give you the best value for money?
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Well, a man who's pretty much tested them all
0:15:38 > 0:15:40is Richard Headland from Which?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Now, we have everything here, don't we?
0:15:42 > 0:15:45We have tablets, powder, liquid and capsules.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47What is the difference?
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Obviously there is a difference between liquids and powders,
0:15:50 > 0:15:54and the main thing is that powders are better at stain removal
0:15:54 > 0:15:55cos they've got bleaching agents in.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58The liquid is much better when you're washing your colours,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01so it's much gentler, typically on your colours, than the powder is.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05But then you've also got the liquid capsules and the powder tablets.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Now, they're fundamentally the same products,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09but obviously you don't have to measure it out.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11You can just pop it in the washing machine.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14These capsules could cost you over 30p a wash,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18and that could be up to twice the price of using the liquid by itself.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19So there's a lot of choice.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Does it make a difference between brand and own brand?
0:16:22 > 0:16:26What we find in our testing is, actually, sometimes brands
0:16:26 > 0:16:28come out on top, sometimes the own labels come out on top,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32and the own labels are significantly cheaper.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35And we do find some real supermarket stars in the testing.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37And what about bio versus non-bio?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Because people get confused about that.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41What is the difference?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44The main difference is that biological powders
0:16:44 > 0:16:45or liquids contain enzymes,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49which are more effective at getting out certain types of stains.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50Some people prefer to use non-bio
0:16:50 > 0:16:53because they think they're gentler on the skin.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55And indeed a lot of powders
0:16:55 > 0:16:59and detergents marketed for children, for example, are non-bios,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01but they're not as effective at stain removal.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05So, to sum up, your top tips for value for money.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07If you do want to get your whites clean, buy a powder,
0:17:07 > 0:17:09and powder is also the cheapest option.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12For your colours, buy a liquid.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16And, generally, consider buying supermarket own brands because
0:17:16 > 0:17:19some of them are fantastic value for money over the big brands.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- Richard, thank you. - My pleasure.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Back to those claims and promises about make-up now.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Do some mascaras have special lengthening powers,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34as the manufacturers say?
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Not always, according to the tests we carried out earlier.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42Are some products really waterproof, as the advertising claims?
0:17:42 > 0:17:43That's another question.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47It certainly is, Sophie,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50and here's hoping that Dr Laura will help us find out the answer.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56So, a waterproof mascara is able to repel water because it's mainly
0:17:56 > 0:17:59composed of waxes and oils.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02So if a mascara claims to be waterproof,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05it really shouldn't come off in the presence of water.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Dozens of mascaras make extreme
0:18:09 > 0:18:11claims about their waterproofing powers.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13So, for the purpose of this test,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16we've picked three products across a range of prices.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Those are Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Waterproof Mascara,
0:18:20 > 0:18:21which costs £22 and claims,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24"Extreme waterproofing for all wet conditions."
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Bourjois Volume Clubbing Waterproof Mascara,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32which costs £7.99 and claims to be "100% sweat and tear proof,"
0:18:32 > 0:18:34and tested at foam parties.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38And NYC Showtime Waterproof Mascara, which costs £1.99
0:18:38 > 0:18:42and claims to have "exclusive volume matrix waterproofing technology".
0:18:42 > 0:18:44We'll of course also be comparing these to
0:18:44 > 0:18:462True Wow Waterproof Mascara,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50which retails at £3 and makes no extreme claims.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52First up, the lab tests.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Dr Laura's applied equal amounts of each mascara
0:18:55 > 0:18:56to these four toothbrushes.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59She'll now dip them into water to see just how waterproof
0:18:59 > 0:19:00they really are.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03So we'll just leave these in here for a minute,
0:19:03 > 0:19:04just to see if anything happens,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07if any of the ingredients come away from the mascara.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10So, first of all, we'll touch it onto our paper here.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14If the mascara is doing its job, it shouldn't leave a mark.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18The most expensive, the Estee Lauder, performs well in this test.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22As does the 2True Mascara, which makes no claims.
0:19:22 > 0:19:29There is a very small amount of mascara has come off onto our paper.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32The cheapest, NYC Showtime Mascara, which claims to have
0:19:32 > 0:19:36"matrix waterproof technology", does slightly less well.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40As for the mid-range Bourjois, which claims to be "100% sweat
0:19:40 > 0:19:42"and tear proof"...
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Ah. Now we have started to see some of this one come off onto our paper.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49It's by far the worst performer on our test.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Just look at the residue it's left behind.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55So that's the lab, but what about real life?
0:19:55 > 0:19:58To find out, we've asked three more volunteers to put them
0:19:58 > 0:20:00through their paces.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02They apply the 2True Mascara, that makes no claims
0:20:02 > 0:20:04and costs £3, to the lashes on one eye.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08And on the other, Natalie is wearing the expensive Estee Lauder.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12Meg is wearing the mid-range Bourjois Mascara...
0:20:12 > 0:20:16and Paige is wearing the cheapest NYC Showtime Mascara.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18First up, the onion test.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Ready, steady, chop!
0:20:22 > 0:20:24SHE LAUGHS
0:20:24 > 0:20:26THEY SNIFF
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Five onions later, THEY might be in tears.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35- As for the mascaras...- It's all right because none of them have run.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Both eyes are really stinging from the onions,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41and water, so they've both tested really well.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Not bad so far.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47These mascaras make some pretty strong claims.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49So, onions, too easy?
0:20:49 > 0:20:52It's time for us to make this challenge a little bit trickier.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Oh, yes. Didn't I mention our volunteers are also water-skiers?
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Deal with that, waterproof mascaras!
0:21:01 > 0:21:06I've never found a decent waterproof mascara, so this test for me today,
0:21:06 > 0:21:11if either of these mascaras work for me then I will definitely buy them.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14They're excited, I'm excited, and off they go.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17If the waterproof mascaras can survive this,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19they'll survive anything.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Nice moves. They've certainly put in a good performance,
0:21:34 > 0:21:35but what about the make-up?
0:21:37 > 0:21:39First, Natalie.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42She's wearing the £22 Estee Lauder and the £3 mascara,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45which makes no claims. Looking good.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Neither of the mascaras have run, despite the £19 price difference.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Next up, Paige, who's come out of the test remarkably unscathed
0:21:53 > 0:21:56despite the fact she's wearing the cheapest NYC Showtime Mascara,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58which costs £1.99.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01And finally Meg, who's wearing the mid-range
0:22:01 > 0:22:03£7.99 Bourjois Mascara.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Yes, the product that performed the worst in the lab has also
0:22:06 > 0:22:08come bottom in our one-off real life test.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13I think, that one, I wouldn't use, because...panda eyes from it.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15But that one's all right.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Bourjois say they complete industry standard scientific
0:22:17 > 0:22:19tests on all their products,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22and that their Clubbing Waterproof Mascara is developed to be
0:22:22 > 0:22:26waterproof whilst also allowing easy removal.
0:22:26 > 0:22:282True say they pride themselves on the reliability
0:22:28 > 0:22:32and performance of their products, that are both affordable
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and comply with the relevant regulations.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37So with the £3 product, which makes no claims,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39doing just as well as the £22 mascara,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42and of course outperforming the mid-range £7.99 product.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44According to the results of our tests,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46when it comes to waterproofing,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48you may want to think whether it's worth splashing out
0:22:48 > 0:22:50much on mascara when you go water skiing.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Back to food now, where earlier we saw how you could find an object
0:22:59 > 0:23:01or even wildlife you weren't expecting
0:23:01 > 0:23:04hidden in the packaged products you buy off the shelf,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07but food manufacturers up and down the country do put
0:23:07 > 0:23:11a lot of effort into making sure this doesn't happen. How do we know?
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Because our cameras have been behind the scenes at one of the biggest.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21Premier Foods, they're the company responsible for putting big
0:23:21 > 0:23:25brands like Hovis, Sharwood's and Oxo on the supermarket shelves.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28And like any other food manufacturer in this country,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31they have to comply with strict rules on food safety
0:23:31 > 0:23:35and quality at every stage of the process.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Today, head of molecular testing Gordon Wiseman is analysing
0:23:39 > 0:23:44these Bisto Best Gravy granules for any traces of horse meat DNA.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Since the horse meat scandal in January last year,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50it's a game changer completely.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54The... Everyone is now doing much more testing
0:23:54 > 0:23:59and much more thorough, and the workload has increased incredibly.
0:23:59 > 0:24:00To carry out the test,
0:24:00 > 0:24:05Gordon needs to remove the meat DNA from the rest of the ingredients.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I'm going to add some detergent to the Bisto to begin
0:24:08 > 0:24:10the extraction process.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14To help extract it from the material, we add an enzyme
0:24:14 > 0:24:18which will extract the cellular structure that is present.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20The DNA is the material.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24You can see how it is fallen to the bottom of the tube.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26After a little more processing...
0:24:30 > 0:24:34..he then uses this laser machine to analyse the DNA solution.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39The green line, which is the Bisto Best, is actually negative
0:24:39 > 0:24:42and there's no horse or pork present in that sample.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45All clear on the horse front,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48but here at Premier Foods analytical testing centre, they don't
0:24:48 > 0:24:51just look at what a product contains,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54but they also look at the taste as well.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57But tasting the variety of flavours involves a sense of smell,
0:24:57 > 0:25:03which is why this laboratory has its very own nasal appraisal test.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06This happens at the product development stage of the process
0:25:06 > 0:25:08and is carried out by Ben.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14Coriander, lemon, sharp, acidic...
0:25:16 > 0:25:20It really gives us an insight into how the consumer perceives the
0:25:20 > 0:25:24odour of that particular material, and they are really key
0:25:24 > 0:25:27elements in terms of whether people enjoy,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29like, or dislike a product.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Once products have been analysed for taste, it's time to produce them.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39One of the production lines for Premier Foods is in Stoke.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45We produce approximately 700 million cakes a year through this factory,
0:25:45 > 0:25:50which is the equivalent to about 13.5 million cakes per week.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Today, we're going to see some of the things that we do to make sure
0:25:54 > 0:25:57that the cakes that we manufacture are to the highest possible
0:25:57 > 0:26:01standard of consistency and quality, and above all, food safety.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05So here's Premier Foods' guide to making
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Mr Kipling's Lemon Layered Slices.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09First up, the cake mix.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15We process about 1,700 or 1,800 kilos of cake batter
0:26:15 > 0:26:17through this line every hour.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20We have our critical control point here, which is
0:26:20 > 0:26:24to re-filter the batter before it goes into the production line.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27We do it at this point because it's the very, very last stage,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29when it's still a liquid.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33We're absolutely minimising the risk of anything going into that
0:26:33 > 0:26:36cake mix that shouldn't be in the cake mix.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Next, the cake mix is cooked in 20-metre long
0:26:38 > 0:26:43ovens at 180 degrees before going to the decorating area.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55And then once we've decorated the cake,
0:26:55 > 0:26:57it will go through some water cutters.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00We use water to cut the cake, rather than metal knives.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02It gives a much cleaner cut
0:27:02 > 0:27:05and neither do we have to worry about the blade being damaged
0:27:05 > 0:27:08and the risk of introducing any metal into the product.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11The cakes then move round the production line
0:27:11 > 0:27:14and onto the packaging side,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17but not before a careful visual inspection by staff,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20when any defective articles are promptly removed.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25The next phase is distinctly less human.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28What we have are eight robots.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31These are used to pack them into their final individual packaging,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35and they use a laser guidance system that helps the robots locate
0:27:35 > 0:27:38exactly where they are on the belt, and then they pick and select them.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44The cakes are checked yet again inside their packaging,
0:27:44 > 0:27:48this time using metal detectors.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50If the sensor does detect some metal,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52the detector will activate an air knife
0:27:52 > 0:27:55and that air knife then blows the pack off the line.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00This system also checks the weight of the cakes.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02The target is 105.6g.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Too much or too little, and it's into the reject bin.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08If the cakes pass this final check,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10they go on to be boxed and distributed.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13This is our finished product warehouse, where we
0:28:13 > 0:28:17dispatch our materials that then move onwards to our customers.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20We've seen the process from start to finish.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23That process has taken about two hours in total.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26We've shown that the different controls that we have in place
0:28:26 > 0:28:29to make sure that the cakes that we manufacture here are being made
0:28:29 > 0:28:33to the highest possible standards of quality, and above all, food safety.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40If you want more information on the safety of products in the your home,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42you can go to our website...
0:28:47 > 0:28:50That's all for today. Thanks for watching.