0:00:02 > 0:00:05There's a lot we don't know about the food on our plates,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09and the shops and the labels don't always tell you the whole story.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12You think you're getting a bargain and you're not really.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15They're just encouraging you to buy more of a product
0:00:15 > 0:00:17when you don't need to.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Whether you're staying in or going out, you've told us that you can
0:00:20 > 0:00:22feel ripped off by the promises made
0:00:22 > 0:00:25by what you eat and what you pay for it.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28What really winds me up is the price of so-called healthy food,
0:00:28 > 0:00:30compared with the unhealthy stuff.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32The unhealthy stuff seems to be so much cheaper.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37From claims that don't stack up to the secrets behind the packaging,
0:00:37 > 0:00:40we'll uncover the truth about Britain's food
0:00:40 > 0:00:44so you can be sure you're getting what you expect at the right price.
0:00:44 > 0:00:49Your food, your money. This is Rip-Off Britain.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Hello and thank you very much for joining us
0:00:53 > 0:00:56once again on Rip-Off Britain, where every day this week we're
0:00:56 > 0:00:59revealing the secrets of your shopping basket.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02getting to the bottom of more of the food stories you've asked us
0:01:02 > 0:01:03to investigate.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Today we'll be discovering some pretty surprising things,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10about what goes into what we eat and what we get out of it.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14For instance, we'll be exposing which food that's found its way
0:01:14 > 0:01:17onto the shelves of some of our shops really shouldn't be there.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21As well as discovering why a much maligned old faithful could be
0:01:21 > 0:01:25every bit as good for you as its more expensive rivals.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27Coming up - it's lower in price,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29but is concentrated orange juice also
0:01:29 > 0:01:33less healthy than its more expensive rivals?
0:01:33 > 0:01:37One of you wrote in asking just that so we've done a test to find out.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Well, I tend to avoid the concentrate
0:01:39 > 0:01:43because I wonder what's been added and what's been taken away.
0:01:43 > 0:01:49Why do they use concentrate and is it any better or worse?
0:01:51 > 0:01:54And candy treats with dazzling colours and dangerously high
0:01:54 > 0:01:55levels of E colours.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57They may be a hit with the kids
0:01:57 > 0:02:01but how come illegal sweets are being sold on British high street?
0:02:01 > 0:02:04It shouldn't be coming in with those labelling deficiencies.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07The problem we have is that if they've got the labelling wrong,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09have they got something else wrong as well?
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Now, how do you start the day?
0:02:15 > 0:02:17Lots of us can't get going until we've had our orange juice.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20But which orange juice is better for you?
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Is it the cheaper concentrated kind or the more natural-sounding,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27less-processed version which can cost a fair bit more?
0:02:27 > 0:02:31I guess a lot of us would think that the pricier juice would be tastier
0:02:31 > 0:02:32and healthier too.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37But when we put that theory to the test, what we discovered was quite a
0:02:37 > 0:02:41surprise and one that, over time, could save you an awful lot of money.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Concentrated orange juice has been on our breakfast tables since the 1940s.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Its popularity started to fade when not-from-concentrate
0:02:51 > 0:02:54juices came on the market 20 years later.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57It still makes up the biggest chunk of the billion litres
0:02:57 > 0:02:59of orange juice consumed in the UK every year.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04But we found quite a few people who said concentrate wasn't
0:03:04 > 0:03:06the juice they preferred.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09I usually tend to buy the one with juicy bits.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Personally I prefer non-concentrate.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Well, I think it's vitamins.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14- I think it tastes nicer.- Yeah.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- So it's a taste thing?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21As we've just seen, chilled not-from-concentrate juice is seen
0:03:21 > 0:03:25by some people as a cut above the cheaper stuff in long-life cartons.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29The packaging is a little smarter and the labels often proudly say
0:03:29 > 0:03:32things like 100% squeezed fruit,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34pure premium or never ever from concentrate.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38So you'd be forgiven for thinking that juice is not only tastier,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40but better for you too.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44And of course, there's something else that makes them stand out...
0:03:44 > 0:03:46There's a real difference in price.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Juice made not-from-concentrate can cost twice as much as juice
0:03:50 > 0:03:51from concentrate.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Rip-Off Britain viewer Brian Coote is among those who haven't minded
0:03:56 > 0:04:01paying a bit more for their juice because they like the taste better.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Even so, Brian couldn't help wondering
0:04:03 > 0:04:07if the extra cost also equalled extra goodness.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10So, after being struck by the extraordinary range of juices
0:04:10 > 0:04:12now available, he wrote to us.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16There were so many different ones on the shelf, there was
0:04:16 > 0:04:20fresh squeezed, pure orange juice, orange juice from concentrate,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22orange juice drink,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24and frankly they were confusing me
0:04:24 > 0:04:28and I hadn't the faintest idea what was the best for me.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Brian doesn't generally buy the old faithful made-from-concentrate,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35but he's wondering if he should reconsider as it would cost him
0:04:35 > 0:04:38so much less than some of the other juices on the market.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I tend to avoid the concentrate
0:04:41 > 0:04:44because I wonder what's been added,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46what's been taken away,
0:04:46 > 0:04:52why do they use concentrate and is it any better or worse?
0:04:52 > 0:04:55The ones that claim to be fresh squeezed juice,
0:04:55 > 0:04:56you look at the sell-by date,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59you might only have a couple of days on it.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02You look at the from-concentrate and you could have two weeks on it.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05That makes a big difference to me as a pensioner.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08So how are the different kinds of juice made?
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Home economist Gillian Marchak is going to take us through the basics
0:05:11 > 0:05:15of the three types of juice on sale, kicking off with the obvious.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I'm going to start off with freshly squeezed.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Squeezing out all the juice.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24'Freshly squeezed only lasts a few days, but it doesn't take much
0:05:24 > 0:05:28'to turn it into the type of juice sold as not-from-concentrate.'
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I've chilled the juice down so it's about two degrees.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36Then I need to heat it up to 98 degrees Celsius.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39In other words, I'm going to pasteurise the orange juice.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41'It's called flash pasteurisation.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45'The juice heated just short of boiling point to kill the bacteria
0:05:45 > 0:05:47'and as a result it can last up to three months.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50'Concentrate orange juice is heated for a lot longer
0:05:50 > 0:05:52'so it lasts longer too.'
0:05:52 > 0:05:56It boils until it becomes quite a sticky syrup,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59looking a little bit like this.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03The concentrated orange juice for easy transportation
0:06:03 > 0:06:07and then all you need to do to make it back into orange juice is
0:06:07 > 0:06:09to replace the water.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12But Brian wants to know what any of these processes might do
0:06:12 > 0:06:15for the goodness inside and whether the cheaper concentrated
0:06:15 > 0:06:17juice has less of the vital nutrients
0:06:17 > 0:06:20that any sort of orange juice contains.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23To help him find out, Brian has come to
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Manchester Metropolitan University
0:06:25 > 0:06:28to meet nutritional scientist, Haleh Moravej.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31- Hi, Brian, how are you?- I'm fine...
0:06:31 > 0:06:34We asked Haleh and her team to compare samples of the three
0:06:34 > 0:06:38main types of orange juice to see how the way they're made might affect
0:06:38 > 0:06:39the nutrients inside.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42We've got the freshly squeezed orange juice,
0:06:42 > 0:06:46one from concentrate and one not-from-concentrate.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49We tested the samples for vitamin C content,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53antioxidants and also the sugar content.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57First Haleh tested for vitamin C, probably the vitamin
0:06:57 > 0:07:00most associated with oranges.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Vitamin C is extremely important,
0:07:02 > 0:07:0690% of vitamin C comes from fruit and vegetables.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Vitamin C is important for the immune system, it's great
0:07:10 > 0:07:15for the connective tissue and prevents something called scurvy.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18What sort of results did you actually get?
0:07:18 > 0:07:21We found that in the freshly squeezed orange juice,
0:07:21 > 0:07:26per 100 milligrams, it was 45 milligrams of vitamin C.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30For the concentrate one, it was 32 milligrams
0:07:30 > 0:07:35and for not-from-concentrate it was 27 milligrams per hundred.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38There's little wonder that the juice squeezed just before the test
0:07:38 > 0:07:41scored highest, but Brian is surprised that the concentrated
0:07:41 > 0:07:44juice has more vitamin C than the pricier not-from-concentrate.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49The results are a little bit interesting, but I'm very
0:07:49 > 0:07:51disappointed about what was supposed
0:07:51 > 0:07:54to be an expensive and premium product.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Next up, antioxidants.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58They're found in fruit and vegetables
0:07:58 > 0:08:02and help stop the body's healthy cells from deteriorating.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07Looking at the antioxidants activity of the samples,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10you'd expect the fresh one to have the highest, but it was actually
0:08:10 > 0:08:13not-from-concentrate that had the highest level of antioxidant.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19The final test was for sugar. None of the drinks included any added sugar.
0:08:19 > 0:08:25So Haleh's testing for the levels that naturally occur in the oranges.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28This is 200mls of freshly squeezed orange cheese.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32It contains 15 grams of sugar
0:08:32 > 0:08:33per 200mls.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36The next one from concentrate
0:08:36 > 0:08:39is 16.8 grams of sugar.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43The least healthy one with sugar
0:08:43 > 0:08:45is 17.2 grams of sugar
0:08:45 > 0:08:47for the not-from-concentrate.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52So in our test, the premium not-from-concentrate orange juice
0:08:52 > 0:08:57contains more naturally occurring sugars than either of the other two.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02It also shows slightly less vitamin C but a higher antioxidant count.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03None of this is a problem.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06But if you're paying extra because you think it's healthier,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09well, it doesn't seem that's necessarily the case.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15When you put it all together, it seems there's not much between them
0:09:15 > 0:09:20when you look at the antioxidants and the sugar content
0:09:20 > 0:09:22and the vitamin C content.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25So it comes down to personal choice.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Now, we only tested one brand of each different type of juice
0:09:30 > 0:09:34and the results in others may vary, but with the average carton
0:09:34 > 0:09:37of concentrate juice costing £1 or more or less than its
0:09:37 > 0:09:39not-from-concentrate rivals,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42it seems that by going for the cheaper option, you could save
0:09:42 > 0:09:46yourself a fair bit of money without compromising on the nutrients.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52We put our findings to the makers of two of the best known
0:09:52 > 0:09:54not-from-concentrate brands of juice,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57both of whom stress they regularly test their products
0:09:57 > 0:09:59against others on the market,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02adding that they have independent scientific evidence which
0:10:02 > 0:10:07shows you get a wealth of beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
0:10:07 > 0:10:08from their drinks.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13And of course there's still one all-important factor which
0:10:13 > 0:10:16just might make it worth shelling out more for a premium juice.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18That's the taste.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Let's put it to the test.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23I'm in Bury Market in Greater Manchester, where people really
0:10:23 > 0:10:25know a thing or two about food.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Their black pudding is famous all over these parts.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30I want to find out if people can tell the difference between juice
0:10:30 > 0:10:34made from concentrate and non-concentrate.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36And...which they prefer.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39I'd like you to drink one from each row and tell me what you think.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- Which do you prefer?- That one. - You prefer that one?- Yes.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44That's the concentrated one.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46That's the expensive one.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Well done. You've passed the test. You're a canny shopper.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52What was it about the difference between two of them?
0:10:52 > 0:10:55If I'm honest, that had the smoother taste.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59The shoppers in Bury didn't have a clear preference,
0:10:59 > 0:11:00and liked both kinds of juice.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03So again, if you've ever ruled out the cheaper concentrated kind
0:11:03 > 0:11:06because you think it won't be as good, perhaps it's worth
0:11:06 > 0:11:10giving it another go and saving yourself some cash into the bargain.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14That's definitely what Brian is planning to do from now on.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I would tend to buy the one from concentrate,
0:11:17 > 0:11:18mainly because of price.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21That's going to change in my basic opinion now
0:11:21 > 0:11:25since we've seen these good results.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Very good results.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Now take a trip to the shops with children
0:11:35 > 0:11:37and amongst all the sweets on display,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41there's a sometimes dazzling array of sugary goodies to catch the eye.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Personally I've never been against a sweet treat every now and again.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48But the multicoloured ones aren't usually the first I'd buy.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Indeed, the ingredients that create some of those bright, bright
0:11:51 > 0:11:54colourings have long been a source of controversy,
0:11:54 > 0:11:59so much so that manufacturers have to put warnings on the packets
0:11:59 > 0:12:01if particular colourings are used.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03But it seems there are some sweets creeping onto the
0:12:03 > 0:12:06British shelves that aren't sticking to the rules.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11# Red and yellow and pink and green... #
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Bright coloured sweets can be the currency of many playgrounds up
0:12:14 > 0:12:17and down the country, but although the kids might like them,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20their parents, on the other hand, may be less keen to see
0:12:20 > 0:12:23their children munching on some of these lovely colourful sweets.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Is there anything in there that you would, as a treat,
0:12:26 > 0:12:27give to your child?
0:12:27 > 0:12:28Um...
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Possibly only the chocolate. But it would be a very special treat.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36No chance.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40So out of this mixture, what would you give your child as a treat?
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- To be honest, none of it. - None of it, OK.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47And reactions like that tend to be for one simple reason...
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- The E numbers. - Quite a lot of E numbers.
0:12:51 > 0:12:57There's a huge amount of E numbers, there's a lot of words that
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I don't really understand, so that's not sounding brilliant.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05The colourings and preservatives which include E numbers that
0:13:05 > 0:13:09go into some of the foods aimed at children can cause real
0:13:09 > 0:13:10headaches for parents.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Now, all these particular products are absolutely fine
0:13:13 > 0:13:16according to the law, but some parents worry about
0:13:16 > 0:13:19whether their children's more hyperactive moments could be
0:13:19 > 0:13:23caused by the ingredients that give some sweets their vibrant colour.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Colourings are certainly high on the hit list for John Griffin
0:13:26 > 0:13:31and his team, who work in one of the ten UK local authority labs,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34inspecting food to make sure that they're safe to eat.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Now, John, how long have you been aware of
0:13:36 > 0:13:38the effect of colourings, particularly in children?
0:13:38 > 0:13:43There was research done in late 2000 as to the effects of colours
0:13:43 > 0:13:46on activity and attention in children.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50These six particular colours were identified as having
0:13:50 > 0:13:54an effect on those particular aspects of children.
0:13:54 > 0:13:55Those six colourings,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58nicknamed the Southampton Six after the university that carried out the
0:13:58 > 0:14:04study, were found to have a direct impact on behaviour in children.
0:14:04 > 0:14:05Just take me through them.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08There are six here. They're all sort of reds and yellows.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09You've got quite a dark red colour,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11this is called Ponceau 4R.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13This particular colour is a slightly
0:14:13 > 0:14:16lighter red and it's called Sunset Yellow, nice name.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17And this one?
0:14:17 > 0:14:21This is Allura Red, so again another one of the Southampton Six.
0:14:21 > 0:14:22Slightly darker red in colour
0:14:22 > 0:14:25but quite commonly used in a lot of products.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28The Southampton study even claimed that the effect
0:14:28 > 0:14:31additives in colours like these can have on a child's behaviour is so
0:14:31 > 0:14:33dramatic that banning them could
0:14:33 > 0:14:37lead to a 30% reduction in ADHD in children.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41The report made headlines and led to many of Britain's supermarkets
0:14:41 > 0:14:42and big-name manufacturers
0:14:42 > 0:14:45voluntarily taking them out of their sweets entirely
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and replacing them with alternative colourings.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52But in America, where a fair amount of our confectionery comes from,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55the Southampton Six are still routinely being used in sweets,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59so products with these colourings are often sold
0:14:59 > 0:15:00on the high streets in the UK
0:15:00 > 0:15:02and it's easy for John to demonstrate
0:15:02 > 0:15:05just how vivid these controversial ingredients are.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Of those four artificial colours,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11one, two, three are actually the six Southampton colours.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Wow. And that's only a very small bowl.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- Well, I'm not going to eat them, are you?- No.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21By law, any sweets that contain the Southampton Six colourings
0:15:21 > 0:15:24can only do so at legally controlled levels
0:15:24 > 0:15:27and they must carry a warning label on their wrappers,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31explicitly stating that these colours may have an adverse effect
0:15:31 > 0:15:34on activity and attention in children.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35But in America, the rules are different.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37No warning is required.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42So to comply with UK rules, any American sweets sold over here
0:15:42 > 0:15:45need to have a warning sticker added to their packaging.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47The products we showed John -
0:15:47 > 0:15:49and, indeed, to the parents at the school gates -
0:15:49 > 0:15:50do have that warning.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53But can parents always spot it?
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Do you see a warning on that whatsoever?
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Warning...
0:15:58 > 0:16:00I don't see the warning. Where's the warning?
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Well...I can't see anything.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Oh, yes - it does say...
0:16:09 > 0:16:12SHE READS OUT WARNING
0:16:13 > 0:16:16So you might think that this is all just fine.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18The warning makes it clear that while these products
0:16:18 > 0:16:21do contain at least one of these six colourings,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24it's going to be at what the EU says is an acceptable level,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26so you can make an informed choice
0:16:26 > 0:16:28on whether you want to buy them or not.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31But I'm afraid it's not always as simple as that,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33because not all the sweets imported from America
0:16:33 > 0:16:37and finding their way onto our high streets stick to the rules.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Here's the point - they may be legal over there,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42but here, with no warning on the labels,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45and potentially higher levels of artificial colouring
0:16:45 > 0:16:46than we would allow here,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49technically, they shouldn't be on sale in this country.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50So why are they?
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Rachel Wilcock is a training standards officer in Lancashire
0:16:57 > 0:17:00who specialises in food safety.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03We were becoming aware that there was a flood of these sorts of products
0:17:03 > 0:17:04coming onto the market.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07We'd noticed lots of little stalls popping up around town centres
0:17:07 > 0:17:11and also products being sold on Facebook and eBay
0:17:11 > 0:17:13and other internet sites.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16So Rachel and her team set out to investigate
0:17:16 > 0:17:20how many other imported sweets might be on sale across Lancashire
0:17:20 > 0:17:22without those crucial warnings
0:17:22 > 0:17:25about how the colourings can affect behaviour.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28We looked at 24 products from across Lancashire.
0:17:28 > 0:17:3017 of them were found to have incorrect labels.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34This could have been either just a general incorrect labelling format
0:17:34 > 0:17:37or that there was...the warning missing,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39relating to the Southampton Six colours.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Without a warning, you might not realise
0:17:43 > 0:17:46the significance of the colours listed in the ingredients list,
0:17:46 > 0:17:50especially as in America, some of them have different names.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52And that wasn't even the worst of it.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Five of the products were found to contain higher levels of colour
0:17:55 > 0:17:57than were permitted by the European Union.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00With the evidence suggesting that high levels could be linked
0:18:00 > 0:18:04to an effect on behaviour, Trading Standards swung into action,
0:18:04 > 0:18:08because - whether the individual sweets would be a problem or not -
0:18:08 > 0:18:12without that crucial warning, even selling them is illegal.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Now what we'll do is contact the businesses
0:18:14 > 0:18:16who have sold these products.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19We'll also chase the products up the chain to the importers
0:18:19 > 0:18:22and, for the products that have got high levels of food colour,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25we'll speak to the Food Standards Agency
0:18:25 > 0:18:28and look to start getting these products out of the market.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32But that could be a bigger job than they think because,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35as one of our researchers discovered on a quick trip
0:18:35 > 0:18:39to two sweet shops in Manchester, the kind found in many town centres,
0:18:39 > 0:18:44imported products without the right labelling are all too easy to find.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46So I've got about 12 products with me
0:18:46 > 0:18:49and there's nothing that has any warning labels
0:18:49 > 0:18:52or anything that says "may have adverse effects on children".
0:18:54 > 0:18:58We asked John Griffin to cast his expert eye over we had bought.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01If I just take a quick look at the label...
0:19:01 > 0:19:04You can usually tell straightaway whether it's complying.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07This particular one doesn't look as if it is at all.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10I'm just looking at the bottom, in terms of artificial colours,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12and it gives its name as "red 40" -
0:19:12 > 0:19:14that's not a colour that we would identify with over here.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Red 40 is just another name for Allura Red,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21one of the Southampton Six colours.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24It shouldn't be coming in with those labelling deficiencies.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26It really should be relabelled for the European market.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30The problem we always have is that if they've got the labelling wrong,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32have they got something else wrong as well?
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Now, it isn't the fault of the American manufacturers
0:19:36 > 0:19:39if their products have been imported and sold in the UK
0:19:39 > 0:19:42by a third party without their knowledge or permission,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45which is what all the big companies we contacted told us was the case
0:19:45 > 0:19:48with the ones that didn't have the right labelling.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51They went on to stress that their products are made to suit
0:19:51 > 0:19:54the tastes and legal requirements of each individual market,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58with some reiterating that the sweets made and authorised
0:19:58 > 0:20:02for sale only in America should not have found their way here
0:20:02 > 0:20:03in the first place.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05But in any case, the companies made it clear
0:20:05 > 0:20:07that wherever a product is sold,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11it will always have met their own quality and safety requirements.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Meanwhile, it seems that unwrapping the truth of what's in all those
0:20:16 > 0:20:20brightly coloured imported sweets is more tricky than it should be.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Rachel from Trading Standards has some final words of advice.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28I would always suggest buying products from a reputable source,
0:20:28 > 0:20:33a reputable business, and perhaps avoid purchasing things like this
0:20:33 > 0:20:37from the smaller internet businesses, auction sites, things like that,
0:20:37 > 0:20:41because we don't always know where those products are coming from.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Still to come on Rip-Off Britain -
0:20:49 > 0:20:51would you know which of these everyday treats
0:20:51 > 0:20:53packs in the most calories?
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Custard and chocolate? Custard and chocolate, that.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- Are you saying that's the most? - Yeah.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- Wine's fattening.- So is beer.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07You know, there's no denying that an awful lot of Brits
0:21:07 > 0:21:10do like a drink or two, even perhaps just occasionally.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14And while you may well consider how many units of alcohol
0:21:14 > 0:21:15there are in your favourite tipple,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18chances are you don't give the same thought
0:21:18 > 0:21:20to how many calories it might have.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21But maybe you should.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26This bunch of fierce competitors
0:21:26 > 0:21:29are the Blackbirds netball team from southwest London.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32They like to and play hard,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34both on and off the court,
0:21:34 > 0:21:38and that usually involves a couple of drinks after the game.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Let's use it!
0:21:39 > 0:21:44We play in the top division so, you know, it's really competitive
0:21:44 > 0:21:46and we definitely always want to win.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Either way, come to the pub afterwards,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50have a drink with your team-mates.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53But like most of us, they don't give any thought
0:21:53 > 0:21:56to how many calories they might be having.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Calories in this pint? Absolutely no idea.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01So, to help them find out,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04each of the team has agreed to keep a diary for the next week,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07detailing everything they drink.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11But are they so unusual knowing so little about how many calories
0:22:11 > 0:22:14they're unwittingly drinking?
0:22:14 > 0:22:18We asked some punters in another pub to guess which of these four items
0:22:18 > 0:22:20is the most and the least calorific -
0:22:20 > 0:22:24a pint of lager, a small slice of chocolate cake,
0:22:24 > 0:22:25a large glass of white wine
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and a chocolate and custard doughnut.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29They're all convinced they know the answer,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33but only one of them will end up getting it totally right.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34Well, that's quite high
0:22:34 > 0:22:36in calories, isn't it?
0:22:36 > 0:22:37Custard and chocolate.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Custard and chocolate, that.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Right. Well, that's first.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43No, no - that's first.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- That's got sugar and chocolate on it. - Yeah, but so has that.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- Are you saying that's the most? - Yeah.- No, that's the most.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- No, it's not. - It is, that's just cos you like it!
0:22:52 > 0:22:53THEY LAUGH
0:22:53 > 0:22:55I just think wine is better...
0:22:56 > 0:22:58..than lager.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00There's a lot more chocolate involved in that -
0:23:00 > 0:23:03white chocolate, brown chocolate -
0:23:03 > 0:23:05and I believe there's bits of chocolate in the middle, as well.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09- I think the wine has probably got the least.- Least, yeah.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11- Wine's fattening.- So is beer.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14OK, I'll agree. We'll agree.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16The least calories is going to be...
0:23:17 > 0:23:19..that.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21The muffin. And the big daddy at the end.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Cos there's more fat women than fat blokes.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Well, he might have called it a muffin, but he's no doughnut.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32And - ignoring that last comment - he has identified the right order.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36It's the large glass of white wine that has the most calories -
0:23:36 > 0:23:38on average, 185.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Next is the pint of lager and the chocolate cake,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43both of which have 180 calories.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46But - perhaps surprisingly - the least calorific
0:23:46 > 0:23:48is the chocolate and custard doughnut,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50which has 143 calories.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51No!
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Official figures show that 80% of people don't know
0:23:54 > 0:23:57how many calories there are in a pint of beer
0:23:57 > 0:24:00or a glass of wine, and dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton
0:24:00 > 0:24:03is concerned about what that means for the nation's waistline.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Alcohol's definitely contributing to obesity
0:24:07 > 0:24:09and at the moment, alcohol contributes
0:24:09 > 0:24:12about 6-7% of our daily calories
0:24:12 > 0:24:14so that's a substantial amount
0:24:14 > 0:24:17from a substance that's giving us enjoyment, of course,
0:24:17 > 0:24:19but isn't giving us any other nutrients.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Most of the food products we buy do list the calorie content
0:24:22 > 0:24:25on the packaging,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28but alcoholic drinks are currently not recognised as food
0:24:28 > 0:24:31so, under existing European law,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34they've been exempt from that type of labelling.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36I think we do have a funny relationship with alcohol,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39where we almost see that it doesn't count,
0:24:39 > 0:24:40it's not adding to calories,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42and that's because it's not labelled,
0:24:42 > 0:24:46so when you go out for a slap-up meal, you don't say,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50"I'm going to miss out on dessert because I'm having a glass of wine."
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Back in London, it's been six days
0:24:52 > 0:24:56since our netball team started keeping their alcohol diaries.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59I have no idea what to expect.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02In total, over just one week,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04our seven players have taken on
0:25:04 > 0:25:08a staggering 13,070 calories
0:25:08 > 0:25:09in booze alone.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12And to burn all of that off,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16they'd each need to play six-and-a-half netball matches.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Team captain Heidi is one of those leading the field.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21She sank almost 30 units of alcohol
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and more than 2,200 calories in booze.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28I was the top calorie consumer?
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Really?
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Not far behind is last week's Player Of The Match.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Nicky drank 2,104 calories.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40As if that wasn't enough food for thought,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42wait till they see how all those calories would stack up
0:25:42 > 0:25:45if consumed in doughnuts.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Here's the team's weekly calorie count - 58 doughnuts.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Looking at it like that, it looks so gross.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54It's a bit of a shock, actually, looking at it in doughnut form.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58The Portman Group, which represents drink manufacturers,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00told us that it must
0:26:00 > 0:26:03"always be the alcohol content, not the calorie content"
0:26:03 > 0:26:08of a product that should primarily inform consumer decision-making.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11pointing out that labels are limited in size and space.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15it recommends that anyone looking for more information on calories
0:26:15 > 0:26:18use tools such as the free Drinkaware app,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21which gives all the details via your smartphone.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24But in the meantime, some of the big drinks companies have announced
0:26:24 > 0:26:28that they do intend to add calorie information to the labels,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31on at least some of their brands.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33As for our netball team, well, now that they know
0:26:33 > 0:26:36the truth about the calories in their favourite tipples,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39will it make any difference to what they drink?
0:26:39 > 0:26:42It's definitely opened my eyes, this exercise.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Just thinking about it has made a difference,
0:26:44 > 0:26:46and would definitely...
0:26:46 > 0:26:50make me stop drinking more of the higher-calorie drinks.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56Here at Rip-Off Britain,
0:26:56 > 0:27:01we're always ready to investigate more of your stories on any subject.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03You can write to us at:
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Or send us an e-mail to:
0:27:17 > 0:27:21The Rip-Off team is ready and waiting to investigate your stories.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27So it's clear that not all the secrets of our food and drink
0:27:27 > 0:27:29can be uncovered just by looking at the label,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32however much we might like to think that that's the case.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36But as we've seen today, sometimes the story on the label
0:27:36 > 0:27:37is a lot more complicated.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40But with a bit of luck, we've given you something to think about,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42so that next time you go shopping,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44you'll understand a little bit more about what you're getting
0:27:44 > 0:27:47and whether it's quite as good a deal as you thought it was.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49And it should all help with the family budget.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52I'm afraid that's where we have to leave you for today,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55but please do keep all of your stories, your questions
0:27:55 > 0:27:56and your comments coming
0:27:56 > 0:27:59and we will be back to investigate more of them very soon.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02In the meantime, I'm afraid that's where we have to leave you today,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04so thanks for joining us and from all of the team,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06- bye-bye.- Bye-bye.- Goodbye.