One year after the launch of its Pantry service for remote food and beverage sales, e-commerce giant Amazon continues to violate the most basic rules of consumer information. He denounces it
GIFT – Great Italian Food Trade
, the independent food and nutrition information portal, which reported the case to the Antitrust Authority.
“The scenario that emerged from our investigation testifies to the rampant superficiality in the approach to a sensitive sector, such as food, which cannot be left to the (in)sensitivity of operators. We therefore hope for a timely intervention by the Antitrust Authority, while waiting for the authorities in charge of sanctioning violations of consumer protection regulations to take action as well.” (Dario Dongo, founder of the Great Italian Food Trade portal)
Survey of 250 products
Great Italian Food Trade examined the terms of sale of 250 foods, accounting for about 20 percent of the products on Amazon Pantry. The result is that one or more pieces of mandatory information are almost always missing.
Sometimes the name of the product is missing, in other cases the nutritional table, and in still others the net weight is absent or 4 different ones are given.
In many cases, a great deal of mandatory information is missing, or essential information is incorrectly reported, or referred to exclusively in a foreign language.
In the most egregious cases, Amazon Pantry omits crucial food safety information, such as an ingredient list or a clear indication of allergens, which can expose consumers to serious risks.
Food sold as junk
Inspite of European rules, and to even more stringent Italianrules on food safety, the Amazon portal seems to treat food as the many items
low cost
offered in the non-food sections.
The approximation is such that it generates a grotesque search for basic information, as verified by reading through users’ ‘questions and answers’.
There are those who ask what are the product ingredients. Those who ask can read a table with nutritional values. Those who distrust the famous product
Made in Italy
because it is presented with only a Chinese label, instilling doubt that the food is the result of counterfeiting.
A scandal that must be stopped: appeal to the antitrust authority
At the conclusion of the investigation, GIFT reported Amazon’s Pantry service to the Antitrust Authority in the hope of prompt action to restore safety in remote food and beverage purchases. And that it also warns other food e-commerce sites, which are equally stingy with guarantees and protections toward their users.
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
