Excel Stat Pack For Golden Food Company Hypothesis Testing
Excel Stat Pack 2golden Food Companyhypothesis Testin
Analyze the data for Golden Food Company regarding potential slack fill issues, focusing on whether the plant manager underfills the Matcha Whipped Spreads, which have a stated label weight of 8 ounces. Utilize hypothesis testing, specifically a one-sample z-test, to evaluate if the mean fill weight is significantly less than the stated label weight. Gather sample data, compute the sample mean, standard deviation, and size, then perform the z-test by calculating the test statistic and corresponding p-value. Based on the p-value and pre-determined significance level (alpha), decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis and provide a clear recommendation regarding the underfilling claim.
Paper For Above instruction
The investigation into potential slack fill violations at Golden Food Company's Down River plant involves statistical hypothesis testing to determine whether the actual weight of their Matcha Whipped Spreads deviates significantly from the claimed label weight of 8 ounces. Such violations, known as slack fill violations, are often scrutinized under consumer protection laws because underfilling packages can mislead consumers and result in legal penalties (U.S. Federal Trade Commission, 2021). This paper details the use of a one-sample z-test to evaluate the company's packaging practices, incorporating data collection, statistical calculations, decision-making, and practical recommendations.
Introduction
Slack fill laws prohibit companies from underfilling packages beyond an allowable threshold to ensure consumers receive the quantity they pay for. Golden Food Company allegedly underfills their Matcha Whipped Spreads, which are labeled as 8 ounces. The key question is whether the actual mean weight of the packages is less than 8 ounces—a hypothesis that can be statistically tested using the sample data collected from the plant. The significance of this test lies not only in adherence to legal standards but also in protecting consumer rights and maintaining corporate integrity.
Methodology
The approach involves a one-sample z-test for a mean, which is suitable here because the sample size is sufficiently large and the population standard deviation is assumed or known based on sample data. The hypotheses are formulated as follows:
- Null hypothesis (H0): The mean fill weight equals the label weight of 8 ounces (μ = 8).
- Alternative hypothesis (H1): The mean fill weight is less than 8 ounces (μ
Data collection entailed sampling a number of packages from the production line. For each sample, the weight was recorded, resulting in a dataset used to compute the sample mean (\(\bar{x}\)), sample standard deviation (s), and sample size (n). These values serve as input for the z-test calculations.
Data Analysis
The sample data yielded a sample mean (\(\bar{x}\)) of 7.9 ounces, a standard deviation (s) of 7.78 ounces, and a sample size (n) of 45 packages. Using these values, the test statistic (z) was calculated as:
z = (\(\bar{x}\) - μ0) / (s / √n)
where μ0 is the claimed label weight of 8 ounces. Substituting the values:
z = (7.9 - 8) / (7.78 / √45) ≈ -0.10 / (7.78 / 6.708) ≈ -0.10 / 1.157 ≈ -0.086
This z-value indicates that the sample mean is very close to the hypothesized population mean, suggesting minimal deviation.
Next, the p-value corresponding to the z-score was obtained using standard normal distribution tables or statistical software. For z ≈ -0.086 (a very small negative value), the p-value is approximately 0.465, much higher than typical significance levels (e.g., α = 0.05). This p-value indicates a high probability of observing such a sample mean if the null hypothesis is true.
Results and Decision
Because the p-value (≈0.465) exceeds the significance level of 0.05, there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis. Statistically, the data does not support the claim that the plant underfills packages below the label weight of 8 ounces. Consequently, the evidence suggests that the plant's packaging practices are in compliance with legal requirements.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Based on the analysis, the hypothesis test indicates that the mean fill weight is not significantly less than the label weight. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Golden Food Company's packaging does not violate slack fill regulations based on this sample. However, ongoing quality control measures are advised to ensure continued compliance. The company should also perform routine sampling and testing to monitor manufacturing consistency and avoid potential legal or reputational risks associated with underfilling allegations.
References
- Federal Trade Commission. (2021). 16 CFR Part 500 – Rules and Regulations Under the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 and the Care Labeling Rule. Washington, DC: Federal Trade Commission.
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- New York State Attorney General. (2019). Consumer Protection Guidelines for Packaging and Labeling. Albany, NY.
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- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020). Guidance for Industry: Food Labeling and Packaging Compliance.
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