‘F’ word in baby oil raises eyebrows

By Zaskiya Lesa 13 January 2016, 12:00AM

A product described as a “Spa baby skin oils” has raised eyebrows among consumers surprised to find a swear word in the label.

“Made in China” and available at a number of local stores, the product has revived questions about the need to have labels in a language easily understood by customers.

The “Spa Baby Skin Oils” is being retailed for $3.90.  And although the labeling is in English, a mother found the message unacceptable and extremely difficult to understand.

“The both puts on to f*** with the towel behingof water, will Just the right amount of smooth the oil is, been even to smear over in whole body, massaging (sic),” the labeling under the heading “use” reads.

 It continues: “This article pure and unadulterated geniality, do not stimulate the skin, Extract the natural plant essence, Prevent the skin effectively dry, make pure fragrance the person of skin, soft slip to molsten, Combine can body layer clearace skin, dirly mark, promote the blood circulation, alleviate effectively The skin is aging to cause not with the muscle strain deeply (sic).”

A concerned mother purchased a bottle and brought it to the Samoa Observer’s attention. 

She was concerned that the product was among a growing number of imported goods with ingredients that are not clearly spelled out.

The mother, who asked not to be identified, fearing repercussions, said her concerns are not confined to the fact that a highly offensive word is there for all young kids to read. 

“I just don’t understand what is in this product,” she said. “The very poor English means we have no idea what it is."

“Besides, certain children are allergic to certain things and my children are at the age where they love to read and they’ll just pick up anything and try to read it." 

“I don’t want them to pick up this bottle and find a word they don’t understand or can’t pronounce and ask me about it.”

Another concern was the authenticity of goods in a different language, other than Samoan and English, being sold. 

Without consumers being able to understand the content of what they are buying, they are left to guess what is used to make these products. 

According to the Fair Trading Act (1998) under Consumer Protection, Sections 17 and 18, it states that no trader or person in the course of trade or business is to sell products that are misleading or of a deceptive conduct, or that of false representation.

The baby oil is only one of the few products that have been mentioned that are being sold on local shelves that do not follow these guidelines. 

Attempts to get a comment from the Fair Trading Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L) were unsuccessful.

It was also not possible to determine which company is importing the product manufactured by “Zhuhai Qianqiu Cosmetics Co. Ltd.”

By Zaskiya Lesa 13 January 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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