Ekurhuleni Environmental health practitioners have taken off the shelves items that pose health hazards.
This includes meat packages that did not indicate sell-by date, expired and rotten food, and unlabelled frozen mixed veggies during the recent spaza shops inspections across the metro.
This is according to Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson.
“Residents carry equal responsibility to adhere to the storage specifications of the food they purchase to avoid foodborne health conditions,” said Gadebe.
He said while it is the shop owner’s responsibility is to ensure foods products are properly labelled and are off the shelves as per the product specifications, the consumer carries the same responsibility of properly storing the foodstuff under the stated storage conditions.
“This is to ensure the quality of food sold remains fit for human consumption.
“Among the important labelling to be observant of is the words ‘sell-by’.
“According to the regulations relating to labelling and advertising of foodstuffs (Gazette No 32975 – Regulation 146) ‘sell-by’ means the last date of offer for sale to the consumer after which there remains a reasonable storage period at home.
“This is a date marked on perishable products indicating the recommended time by which they should be sold.
“The regulation further states that ‘best before’ is the date which signifies the end of the period under any stated storage conditions during which the product will remain fully marketable and will retain any specific qualities for which tacit or express claims have been made.”
He said nevertheless, beyond the date, the food may still be perfectly satisfactory, but to maintain the food quality, the appropriate storage instruction before and after opening should be adhered to.
“The manufacturer determines the appropriate storage instruction relevant to the nature of the foodstuff, to ensure that any specific quality attributes are retained and preserved.
“Nevertheless, the customer may use their own discretion not to or to consume the food based on the change in smell, colouring or shape from its original form. When the ‘sell by’ or ‘best before’ dates have been reached, it does not mean that the food is necessarily dangerous, but the risk of microbiological deterioration has started to increase.
He said it is illegal and a punishable offence to sell unlabeled foods.
Residents may lodge their complaints regarding the selling of unsatisfactory food products at the Health and Social Development offices in Boksburg and Vosloorus on 011 999 5407.
ALSO READ:
Listeriosis outbreak declared over
Follow us:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Benoni City Times, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail.
