The Press Complaints Commission today published this judgement regarding the Sun newspaper.

Ray Merrell complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published an article about the European Union’s plans to sell all food by weight which was misleadingly headlined “Euro ban on eggs by dozen”.

The complainant pointed out that it was not the case that British shoppers would no longer be able to by a box of six eggs or a dozen rolls: merely that the items will be priced by weight. He was concerned that the article – which appeared on page ten of the newspaper and online – represented an attempt to stir up anti-EU feeling among readers.

The Sun was then forced to publish this today:

Eggs by a dozen are safe
Brussels has vowed it has no plans to ban Brits buying eggs by the dozen. Controversy erupted in July following reports that the EU wanted food to be only sold by weight. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman pledged to fight the plans. And the Food Standards Authority watchdog also voiced concern.

But the European Parliament has insisted it never intended to stop people buying eggs or bread rolls by the dozen. A spokesman said: “Selling eggs by the dozen will not be illegal under the terms of the amendments adopted by the European Parliament to EU food labelling proposals. “Labels will still be able to indicate the number of food items in a pack, whether of eggs, bread rolls or fish fingers.”

The above appeared on page four of the newspaper.

hat-tip Minority Thought blog

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

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2. Andrew Burgess

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3. J Clive Matthews

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4. greg H

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5. Philip Cane

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6. Yokel Bear (Mark)

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7. kevinrye

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8. Anthony Zacharzewski

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9. loveandgarbage

   Has @iaindale seen the latest on the egg front? http://bit.ly/9ElNg0

10. Rob

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11. Minority Thought

    RT @libcon: The Sun admits mistake on 'EU banned dozen eggs' http://bit.ly/cDbxqR

12. Jackie

    RT @libcon The Sun admits mistake on 'EU banned dozen eggs' http://bit.ly/cDbxqR <– Or outright, deliberate lie to whip-up hatred.

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