Not sure if anyone else has noticed this, but if you've purchased some parts from Farnell and not used them
for a year, the labels may have faded to pure white.. The image below is of parts that were purchased in June 2011.
Lesson: worth writing in ink what the parts are, in case there is a risk of not using them in one year!
I think they are thermally printed - I always write the part number in pencil on the label as soon as parts arrive unless they are for immediate use.
The same thing happens with credit card til receipts, I'm not sure if it's intentional or just the way the chemistry works.