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.
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