Crime online

One in 10 internet users fell victim to online fraud last year, losing an average of £875 (€1,288) each, according to a survey published today. Many failed to take basic steps to protect themselves online and fewer than half felt they were wholly responsible for their safety while using the internet. Six per cent had suffered fraud while shopping online, 4 per cent had experienced general fraud and 3 per cent were subject to bank or credit card crime, the survey by YouGov for Get Safe Online found.

Green pointers

Green labelling of food to show the impact of its production on the environment could become the next big thing and lead to major changes in consumption, retailers have said. "It is a trend that might be bigger than all the rest," a spokeswoman from Tesco said. She added that feedback from consumers suggested they wanted retailers to help them behave in a more sustainable way and that "a substantial change in customer attitudes" was becoming apparent.

Boxing clever

Repak has launched an Easter Campaign urging householders to make an extra effort to recycle the 375,000kg of cardboard and plastic packaging from Easter egg boxes. According to the recycling initiative, a tower of the boxes of 5.6 million Easter eggs consumed this year would be 83 times higher than Mount Everest and contain enough chocolate to fill five and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools. Repak also estimates that the booze consumed on Good Friday and over the Easter weekend will generate over 15 million beverage cans and one million wine bottles.

Sparkled eggs

A €1.5 million Easter gift which marries diamond jewellery with chocolate has gone on sale. The Belgian chocolate half-egg is set with a necklace made from pear-shaped and marquise diamonds and is on display in the chocolate department of Harrods in London.