Going off online

Thumbs down:Fresh groceries bought in supermarkets may have a longer shelf life than the same products ordered online, a consumer group said today.

A survey by Which? found in-store best-before dates were on average one day later than the same products ordered from their websites. A loaf of bread bought from a supermarket had a sell-by date eight days later than the same type of loaf bought via the chain's website.

Help is in store

Thumbs up:A big welcome to Howard, the new web tool aimed at protecting online shoppers from fraudulent web traders, which was unveiled by the European Consumer Centre last week. The Howard tool allows shoppers to check a web trader's reputation before committing to purchasing goods from the website. It gathers information on websites, such as where and when the site was registered, and checks whether it has "trusted" accreditation.

Mannequin manhood

Thumbs down:The owners of the Starling Vendetta boutique in Newport, South Wales were told by Gwent police to cover up a window display depicting a naked man or face prosecution under section 5 of the Public Order Act for causing "alarm or distress". A fig leaf now hides the modesty of the window dressing and an online petition has been launched against the cover-up.