Beware of labels on edible food on New Year purchases
by Carol Aloysius
Health Ministry officials have cautioned the public against labels of
all edible food bought for the forthcoming New Year.
"Sales of ready-made traditional sweetmeats have already begun in
most supermarkets and even in small eateries. If they are packeted
foods, ensure they list all the ingredients, the weight, date of
manufacture, date of expiry, address of the manufacturer and
instructions on storing them. This is specially important for kavums,
kokis, lavariya, and sweets such as aggala, bibikkan and kaludodol.
They should not be on the shelves for more than a week or 10 days,
the most as they will be unfit for human consumption", Director, Food
Control Administration division of the Ministry of Health, Mr. K.
Tillekeratne told the Sunday Observer.
He said that all foods sold in packets, should be packed in airtight
packets using Food Grade polythene which are more durable and less
harmful to the human body. Else kokis and kavum due to their high
moisture content can get spoilt", he said.
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