Displaying/selling expired goods-expose the evil

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

Guyanese simply like to sit back and wait for deliverance- at least too many times. I think here of all the hassles they put up with, simply because ‘hard-headed’ minibus operators are bullying them. The same kind of trespass is meted out to them in many supermarkets; they are fooled or bullied into buying expired items. So this must be exposed.

The incident took place in Region Two, where thousands of dollars worth of expired food items were dumped and burned by officers from the Public Health Department. The scene was the Lima Landfill site. This was done during an expiry raid, on several supermarkets, and whole sale and retail shops.

According to Senior Environmental Health Officer Shaleena Jaigobin, the items were seized and taken off from popular business places in the region.

The ‘searching officers’ found mostly chocolates, cookies, Kraft Macaroni, Sunshine products, seasonings, fruit juices, hot sauces, and margarine.

Well this is wonderful news. I hope that this ‘kind of thing’ is done all the time.

I know of many supermarkets giving ‘specials.’ These ‘specials’ are all expired products.

However, it is left to the public to really alert the Public Health Department.

When the consumers ‘pander’ to bad practices, perpetrators become bold. That is why these ‘bold supermarkets’ can actually display these expired items.

Now this is the law, fellow Guyanese: The Food and Drug Act 34: 03, clearly states that it is against the law for businesses to keep or sell expired items inclusive of groceries.

With this, the advice is that buyers check for expiry dates before purchasing. If expired items are found, then complain to the proprietors.

If this does not work, then report to the Public Health Department.

Again, I implore: Guyanese do not put up with nonsense, in the case of expired products, a health factor is coming into play.

Yours truly,

Bissoon Chatterpaul

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