Research clinic: Product testing
 Our client has asked us to undertake a hall test to get respondents to taste several different types of chocolate biscuit without providing them with a list of ingredients. Is this acceptable?
 No, respondents must be provided with details of all of the ingredients contained within the biscuits being tested. The list of ingredients must be clearly visible on the packaging itself. In addition, you may also use an accompanying information sheet to hand to the respondent to read before tasting any of the chocolate biscuits. You do not need to highlight the proportion or amount of each ingredient, just provide a list of ingredients presented in descending order of weight.
I am organising a hall test where respondents will be asked to taste a number of different cheese snack products. Are there any requirements for the handling of such food products?
Full details of all of the requirements are contained within the Food Standards Agency’s Safer Food document which is available at www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/. In summary, food handlers must:
- Not be unwell, or have been unwell in the previous 48 hours
- Wash their hands using soap and water and dry them before handling any food after using the toilet and after handling rubbish
- Have their hair fastened back
- Not eat, chew gum or smoke in the room where the food is being stored, prepared or tested.
Can we video record the tasting of products in a hall test environment for use in our final presentation of the results to our client?
You must ensure that on attendance at a venue respondents are informed about the nature of any observation, monitoring or recording, and how the data will be used, and are given the option of withdrawing from the hall test.
My client has supplied samples of cosmetics for a product test. The samples do not have any labels. Is this acceptable?
Similar to the supply of food, the supply of cosmetic products is strictly regulated by law. The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2004 require that the packaging in which it is supplied bears, in lettering which is visible, indelible and easily legible, a list of its cosmetics ingredients (preceded by the word "ingredients") in descending order of weight, the weight to be determined at the time the ingredients are added to the product.
The container and packaging in which it is supplied must also bear: the name or trade name and the address or registered office of the manufacturer of the product or of the supplier; details of certain specified substances, preservatives and UV filters; any particular precautions to be observed in use and any special precautionary information on a cosmetic product for professional use, in particular in hairdressing; and the function of the product unless this is clear from its presentation.
Products supplied in the course of market research do not have to give information on: best before dates or use within a specified period of opening; the batch number or date and location of manufacture.
Are there additional ethical principles which apply to product testing?
Rule A10 of the Code of Conduct provides that Members must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that Respondents are not harmed or adversely affected as a result of participating in a research product.
Reasonable precautions in the case of product testing would include: ensuring that the client confirms the product has met all regulatory requirements for supply to the public; that respondents are clearly informed of the ingredients and possible side effects or reactions, so that they can make an informed decision to participate in the project; and ensuring that products are stored and handled properly, to prevent spoilage or contamination.
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