Do you get bored about the way that when imperial figures in recipes are included, they always have brackets? I must say that the use of brackets reduces the legibility (isn't that kind of the idea?). Just to remind you: for over twenty years recipes have given metric figures alongside imperial figures, and surprise surprise throughout that time people have ignored them. What do you find easier to say out of "six ounces" and "a hundred and fifty grammes"? Last summer I wrote a letter to Doves Farm, an organic flour manufacturer, complaining about the use of brackets around the figures in ounces, fluid ounces and fractions of a pint. Not really giving them long to respond, I telephoned in, and failed to get through to the person responsible for such a matter. She returned the call, as I was led to believe that she would, and I had a mini-debate with her over the issue; she said that they were going to give imperial figures alongside metric figures (do you believe that? - the only use of imperial figures made by Jordans Cerials are fractions of a pint...). She ofcourse did explain to me what the law says, but I am far from certain whether it includes recipes. By chance, the company were scheduled to have a meeting later that day, and she said that she would raise the issue with them, and it looks like she did. Within a few months, they not only ceased to use the brackets, but they have also started to include how many pounds of flour are in the packet, thus the weight is now stated "1kg 2.2lb": this is firther success than I seeked, although I wanted the imperial figures to be put first which they're still not). Recently, I also complained to McDougal's and Silver Spoon over the use of brackets causing the imperial figures to be less legible, but I have'not succeeded with them (so far).

Frederick,
Well done on getting them to change. It's not always easy. Few people refer to the metric when pounds/pints are alongside.

I hear ya!

If I knew from which position you're looking at this from. I take it you're on our side.

Once again, Doves Farm have started putting imperial figures in brackets, which is totally unnecessary (they are also underestimating the imperial quantity of flour e.g. 1.5kg is 3.3lb, not 3lb.

I wrote a letter to them, but it would be more effective if you, reading this post, send them a letter or e-mail them - the more, the better.

Also, keep a look out for other examples - the more demetrications we do, the better.

I suppose you would also want them to reduce the size of the pack to 2lb rather than 2.2lb?

No wait, that would be an imperial "rip off", and then the amount would be too small because 1kg is "just the right amount".

To coin a phrase that Conrad nicked off me:

"Congratulations for totally missing the point"

Ross is right, it would be considered as imperial rip-off !

Congrats SteveH for totally missing the point !

How predicatble was THAT ?!?!


:)