Brasília, 1/30/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil's consumer watchdog agency (Secretaria de Direito Econômico do Ministério da Justiça) reports cases of companies disguising product changes (maquiagem). The companies are: Hewlett-Packard, Pepsico do Brasil (Elma Chips) and Johnson & Johnson.

The companies are accused of reducing the quantity of some products without informing consumers (by law, such changes should be clearly indicated on packaging). Fines for this type of infraction vary from R$212 to over R$3 million.

Elma Chips is accused of reducing the weight of Cheetos, Fandangos, Doritos, Pingo D´Ouro and Stiksy.

Johnson & Johnson is accused of reducing the number of sanitary napkins in its packages.

Hewlett-Packard is accused of reducing the size of ink-jet cartridges. (AB)