the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) has circulated a public advisory warning against products incorrectly labelled as vinegar. This is in an effort to inform importers and local manufacturers that solutions produced by the diluting of concentrated acetic acid must not carry the label of vinegar.
The GA-FDD pointed out that according to the law constituted by the Regulation Division, vinegar is the name given to a solution or liquid obtained through the process of acetous fermentation of an alcoholic substance. As such, it should contain no less than four per cent and no more than 12 per cent of acetic acid. Therefore, solutions prepared by diluting concentrated acetic acid must be accurately tagged as “Diluted Acetic Acid (Food Grade 4-12) rather than “vinegar” .
Labels showing the difference between the misleading and correct label
This advisory coincided with observations made by the Department which indicate that locally manufactured as well as imported products currently being sold on the market are carrying the misleading label.
As such, the GA-FDD seeks to remind citizens of the repercussions of marketing incorrectly-labelled products by alluding to the law that is Guyana’s Food and Drug Act, which states: “Any person who labels, packages, treats, processes, sells or advertises any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety is guilty of an offence.”
Moreover, the GA-FDD is also calling on consumers to take precautions when purchasing such items by examining the label so as to avoid being misguided regarding details of the products.
