A prominent soap manufacturing company recently confessed in the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court to producing and selling substandard baby soap, following an investigation by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). The company, known for marketing attractively shaped and affordably priced baby soaps, faced charges of misleading consumers about the quality of its products.
The case was initiated after the CAA received a complaint on May 30. Officials collected samples of the company’s baby soaps from the Pettah area and sent them to the Institute of Industrial Technology for quality testing. The results revealed that the Total Fatty Matter (TFM) content of the soaps was only 63%, significantly lower than the 78% standard mandated by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute under SLS 547:2009 Specification for Baby Soap.
Charges were filed by the CAA, and the case was heard on August 16 at the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court. During the hearing, the company admitted to falsely claiming compliance with the required TFM standard on its packaging.
As a result, the court ordered the immediate halt of all non-compliant baby soap sales and the recall of products already distributed to retailers. The CAA also issued a public notice, advising consumers to be cautious when purchasing baby soaps from this manufacturer.
