I was not surprised to see that scourge of industry - the Daily Mail - taking pride of place in a number of presentations at this year's Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association annual business forum. Of course, its role was to be attacked from all quarters for its sensationalised approach to stories, such as a possible (and unproven) link between deodorants and breast cancer. So what can industry do to combat this, delegates asked? Chris Flower, CTPA director general, said companies may soon have to put the ultimate warning on their packs: "If you are too stupid to understand how to use this product, then use someone else's."

One cannot help but compare the CTPA's dilemma to that of the food industry. It's all a matter of risk and a proportionate approach. As Flower added, it's getting to the point where you have to put 'do not drive your buggy into the pond' in your golf club rules. But Dr John Adams, emeritus professor of geography at University College of London, warned the situation was already out of control. Attending a risk assessment conference in Calgary, Canada, he noticed a sign proclaiming 'Due to the increasing number of allergies, this is a fragrance-free conference'. A worrying development indeed for the perfumery association.

Bogof would like to thank those organic retailers who helped his colleague in her hour of need. Having reported her distress at finding her Abel & Cole box stolen one morning - and the subsequent shenanigans dealing with it - our deputy editor has now tested the new Tesco Fenland Organics and Ocado schemes, as well as locating a new hiding place for the Abel & Cole box. Thumbs up all round. Now it's the tricky decision of whether to go for muddy carrots piled with everything else into a box or scrubbed up ones in a plastic bag delivered with her other groceries at a convenient time.

bogofs.week@william-reed.co.uk