CAA warns of substandard processed foods

by Carol Aloysius

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) cautioned the public to be vigilant of foods sold in the open market, warning that many items contained inferior and expired ingredients.

"Recent CAA raids have revealed that expired processed and packeted food items such as cooking oil, sauces, yeast and margarine are being re-labelled and sold to an unsuspecting public. So, check all labels carefully. If you have any doubts regarding the contents or labels, inform your nearest regional food inspectors' office or contact us on our hotline", CAA Information Director, Chandrika Thilekeratne told the Sunday Observer.

She said most substandard items were stocked in warehouses and sold to various eateries. "Even some five-star hotels have been duped into buying these inferior products which are sold wholesale and are thus cheaper", she said. "Bakeries are the most common outlets for these unscrupulous vendors", she said.

She alleged that the main reason for many recently emerging diseases including non-communicable diseases was people consuming expired food containing inferior ingredients, as most working people ate out or bought fast food to be eaten at home.

"Fast foods contain transfats leading to cholesterol and are high in salt leading to hypertension. Eat home-cooked food instead. Grind your own spices to avoid ingesting harmful dyes and contaminants. Drink boiled water as bottled water is increasingly being contaminated with foreign particles. Make sure that fish is fresh before buying as we have discovered formalin in fish," she said. She said errant traders would face stiff punishments. "The CAA has provisions to deal with them. To safeguard the public from their illegal activities, we are currently carrying out consumer awareness programs for schoolchildren, housewives and the public on checking labels", she said.

On the inspection of a large haul of goods worth over Rs. 85 million with expired labels found at Kotahena last week, she said the inspection team had completed its work and the report would be sent to the Maligakanda Magistrates Court early this week.