THE Government Analyst Food and Drug Department has been pleading with retailers and vendors to dispose of expired food items, but some retailers outside the Georgetown Stabroek Market are bent on ignoring such warnings.Heeding the reports of several concerned citizens, a Guyana Chronicle reporter on three occasions during last week attempted to purchase noodles, drink mix, Colgate tooth paste, and canned juices from vendors in that area, only to realise that the items had already expired, and in some cases by more than three months.
On Tuesday last under the guise of purchasing what appeared to be imported noodles from a female vendor, the reporter was shocked when he was informed that the noodles which normally carries a retail cost of $300 was being sold for $100.
Upon checking the manufacturer’s date on the item, it was discovered that it had expired since August 2015. When the reporter voiced his observations, the woman uttered a rude retort under her breath before loudly responding, “Shuppppppsssss… Well is nah me fault, I buy it just suh frum dem big ones.”
Attempts were also made to purchase fruit cocktail from another vendor only to discover that this item had expired since September 2015. Several other vendors were approached and the findings were that items such as biscuits, chocolate, tinned juices and wafers had all expired at varying dates during the year 2015.
Upon contacting the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department yesterday, a female food inspector there who refused to give her name (she claimed for security reasons) said she would inform her superiors about the situation, so that action could be taken against vendors who are peddling expired food items in the city.
In May 2015 via audio and print media the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department launched a campaign advising consumers against the purchase of improperly packaged, unsealed, and unlabelled food items (flour, milk powder, powdered spices, seasonings, salt, etc.)
Concerned citizens are again calling on the organisation to stage a campaign against vendors who are in the habit of peddling expired items to the general public.