I’m convinced the herbs I bought online have been tampered with — what are my rights?

Our consumer lawyer answers your questions

I ORDERED ground turmeric and ginger in bulk online to save money on my food bills. I’ve tried both spices and I’m convinced they’ve had bulking ingredients added. Who do I complain to?

P.W., via email. I always say consumers ‘should get what it says on the tin’ when buying goods. This is not just a matter of principle — it’s the law and is especially important when it comes to food.

In this respect, several laws are in place to protect consumers, including The Food safety Order, Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations, The General Food Regulations and The Food Information Regulations.

I cite all these to demonstrate how seriously your problem is taken, as ultimately the deliberate mislabelling of food is fraud and is therefore a criminal offence.

However, notwithstanding the clear legal position, food fraud (as this is commonly called) is becoming a significant issue for UK consumers and something we all need to be aware of.

The general rule is that where a food or drink product has two or more ingredients, including any additives, the label must list them all. Ingredients must be listed in order of weight, with the main ingredient first.

Bulking agents are an additive that increases food volume or weight and, if the ground turmeric and ginger you purchased does contain them, they should be listed on the label and on the description you read online.

Clearly they were not listed in your case, meaning the trader has committed a criminal offence and is in breach of contract in relation to the sale to you. In these circumstances there are two steps you can take.

First, demand your money back on the basis that the goods are ‘not as described’ as they should be under the Consumer Rights act. secondly, make a complaint to Trading standards, which is where the Food standards agency directs consumers to complain about misleading labelling. MY NEXT-DOOR neighbour asks if a courier can drop parcels with me as I work from home. It was fine at the start but now there’s usually two or three a week and I don’t know what they are. Where do I stand if one goes missing or if she’s receiving stolen goods?

A.R., via email. I always advise consumers not to opt for deliveries to be left with neighbours. Even though it may sound convenient, you lose a great deal of security and therefore rights when you do this as the trader’s responsibility for the goods will end the moment they are delivered to your neighbour. so if goods then go missing (because your neighbour denies receiving the goods), you have no recourse against the trader.

By contrast, when you refuse to elect for parcels to be delivered to a neighbour or be left in a ‘safe place’ (which I advise you do), the trader is responsible for the goods until they come into your physical possession. so, if the courier leaves the goods on your doorstep, in another safe place or with a neighbour, and for some reason you do not receive the goods, you can demand a refund or replacement goods.

your situation is obviously different. you are receiving deliveries on behalf of your neighbour. The couriers should only leave the parcels if you answer the door. If they leave one outside and it goes missing, or if it does not arrive, your neighbour will have to ask the trader to obtain proof from the courier that the parcel came into your physical possession, otherwise your neighbour will be entitled to a refund or replacement.

your neighbour couldn’t blame you unless there was proof that the parcel came into your physical possession.

Obviously you will not know what is in the parcel, so, if it transpires that you have taken possession of stolen goods on behalf of your neighbour, you will not land yourself in trouble, as the law provides that you must ‘knowingly’ handle stolen goods and therefore receive the goods dishonestly. This would obviously not be the case here.

WRITE to Dean Dunham, Money Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email d.dunham@

dailymail.co.uk. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.