Expired food worth over Rs. 80 m seized at Kotahena

by Carol Aloysius

Food items worth over Rs. 80 million were seized at a Kotahena warehouse early this week, Consumer Affairs Authority sources told the Sunday Observer.

"This was one of the biggest raids carried out this year. Our inspectors are still sorting out the products with the misleading labels and would complete their task over the weekend", Director Consumer Affairs and Information, Chandrika Thilekeratne said. A report would be sent to the court thereafter.

She said the items varied from olive oil and vegetable oil to margarine, Ajinomoto monosodium glutumate and yeast.

"These are generally used to process food and the public should desist from buying processed food and cook their meals at home instead", she said. She said that most wholesale dealers, sold these items at reduced prices to hotels, bakeries and other eateries despite the products being inferior. "If the expiry dates had lapsed it could pose a serious risk to the consumer", she said.