Complaint
This article on the prospect of increases in the price of food said “Over the past month, food prices have risen by 5.2% compared to last year as consumers’ concern about the cost of shopping has accelerated, according to Worldpanel by Numerator”. A reader complained that this formulation gave the incorrect impression that the 5.2% increase had occurred over the previous month, whereas the figure was for the annual increase. After initially defending the article’s wording, BBC News amended it to make clear that 5.2% was a year-on-year figure and added an explanatory note. The reader wrote to the ECU that, although he regarded the amendment to the article as satisfactory, he was dissatisfied with the handling of his complaint.
Outcome
The ECU is not responsible for the earlier stages of the complaints process and is not authorised to form judgements on the prior handling of particular complaints. Its investigation was therefore confined to the issue of accuracy raised by the complainant and the adequacy or otherwise of the action taken to remedy it. It accepted that the wording complained of was potentially misleading but considered that the amendment and addition of an explanatory note, though somewhat delayed, was sufficient to resolve the issue of complaint.
Resolved
