Ilford 120 film quality issue

[lindsay]

If this has been flagged before please say, but I've just had a film (FP4) back from Analogue Wonderland, who have advised of what looks like water stains on my negatives (and I had the same from another roll last year processed by AG Labs), Notice from Ilford AW have pointed me to this that they received from Ilford about the issue. I am now going to check all my remaining stock of B&W 120 Ilford film to see if it will be affected too, and ask for some money back or replacement films. I rather fear that this is my older stock that is going to be past its expiry date now though.

 

[David_Mug]

I had a number of PanF films which had a mottled effect all over the negatives. They were many years out of date so I had only been using them for testing cameras and lenses.
Since the mottling effect was on the back of the film I presumed that the cause was a reaction with the black ink on the backing paper. I see that it is mentioned on Ilford's website that they print as lightly as possible on the backing paper to minimise reaction with the film.
Maybe this links with their assertion that 35mm and sheet film is unaffected?
I have used many out of date films which have come my way over the last 50+ years and have not notced this problem before.
I wonder if modern formulations of ink avoiding now unwelcome chemicals may be causing a problem?

 

[lindsay]

Ilford said that it was to do with the backing paper on 120 films after changing a supplier or something. Anyway, they are sending me some replacement films for the ones that were ruined, but my unexposed expired ones from the same batch they can't help with because...they are expired. Fair enough.