Taboo on altering manufacture and expiry dates

by Ananda Kannangara

The Health Ministry will come down hard on unscrupulous traders who alter the manufacturing and expiry dates of consumer products.

According to a spokesman for the Health Ministry some grocery shop dealers are in the habit of effecting such alterations on the labels pasted on food packets, canned food products and bottles of cordials.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the Sunday Observer that the public should be extremely cautious when buying food products from small grocery shops or supermarkets.

According to the amended Food Act, initiated by the Health Ministry to ensure quality food production from July 1, this year, all food manufacturers should strictly comply with Health Ministry regulations when selling products.

Manufacturers too should adhere to the Ministry directive when manufacturing, labelling and transporting food products.

The Health Ministry calls upon customers to check the labels pasted on food packets and bottles containing cordial, jam and butter. The spokesman said, products which carry the Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) label and the expiry date could be considered as quality items. The Minister has cautioned customers to keep a close eye on outdated food items that are sold cheap to earn a fast buck. The Minister also cautioned traders to refrain from selling outdated food items, including meet, fish, imported canned foods, soft drinks and bottles of cordials to customers, since many deaths had been reported recently due to outdated soft drinks.