A supermarket owner who was recently discovered to be tampering with expiration dates on products, and even repackaging foods in unsanitary conditions, is expected to make a court appearance soon.
Head of the GA-FDD, Marlan Cole
This is according to Head of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD), Marlan Cole, on Monday during an interview with this publication.
Cole said the GA-FDD has concluded its investigations, and the matter is now being treated as a criminal one.
The owner of the embattled supermarket was busted on October 5, 2018 during an inspection exercise conducted on the East Coast of Demerara.
According to the GA-FDD, the proprietor of the supermarket, which was only recently established, was discovered to be repackaging foods under unsanitary conditions, selling expired foods, and also tampering with expiration dates. This businessperson was found extending the date mark on condensed milk products.
The GA-FDD disclosed that fifty-one 395g tins of condensed milk which had the date marks tampered with were seized and removed from the premises. Those tins just had the manufactured date and the expiry date, whereas those products that were not tampered with carry a barcode along with the manufacture and expiry dates.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the proprietor in question in the East Demerara Magisterial District in accordance with the laws of Guyana – Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03, Section 35.
Part II (5) of this law states: “Any person who sells an article of food that is unfit for human consumption; or was manufactured, prepared, packaged or stored under the unsanitary condition, is guilty of an offence.”
Part II (6), Food and Drug Act, Cap 34:03 of 1971 went on to outline that: “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, quality, composition, merit or safety, is guilty of an offence.”
“Consumers are again asked to ensure that all items of food have a label that is English translated, and to ensure the dates are closely examined and (found to be) not altered or tampered with,” the Department warned.
The GA-FDD is calling on consumers to pay closer attention to the expiry dates on products being sold, particularly in supermarkets along the East Coast, East Bank, and West Coast of Demerara, as a result of the recent discovery.
