A supermarket franchise in Wynberg is allegedly selling expired products.
This was discovered by a member of the public after he purchased an apparently expired bar of 90g Cadbury Dream chocolate from the shop, and also noticed that the franchise was selling packs of 500g Nkomasi milk, also suspected of having expired. Both products had their expiry dates covered by dark ink.
Maanda Malema said, “The shop is endangering our lives and many are duped into thinking they are getting a good deal, while they are exposing themselves to possible food poisoning which can be fatal, especially from milk products.”
Malema said when he questioned the shop’s managers, they apparently seemed unconcerned and claimed they were instead assisting the public through discounted prices.
He wondered if the franchise’s head office management knew about the practice, as the products were not sold at the tills, but at an ice cream vending stand in the shop where allegedly no receipts were issued.
He added that the shop could be taking advantage of the absence of inspections by health and consumer inspectors. “This is a major concern, especially for poor people whose lives are put at risk due to lack of enforcement of consumer protection and protection of access to information regulations.”
Malema said he became vigilant about expired products after reading an article about businesses that made huge profits by selling expired goods. “Big brand name supermarkets were cited for re-injecting chicken products with salt or brine water,” he said.
Attempts to get comment from the franchise head office management in Pretoria were unsuccessful.
