Foreign language food items to be removed

The Ministry of Health has issued a directive to all retailers to remove all food items with labels and instructions written in a foreign language from the shelves immediately.

Health Ministry Spokesperson Peni Namotu confirmed that their Food Unit Officers are currently checking shops and supermarkets to ensure these products are removed from the shelves as soon as possible.

Fijivillage news also found several household items like cooking appliances, food items and electrical appliances with labels and instructions in a foreign language leaving consumers in the dark on the specifications, expiry date or ingredients of the products.

Some food items we found which had labels in a foreign language included chocolates, biscuits, imported soft drinks, canned food items and snacks and you cannot ascertain its ingredients or the expiry date.

The Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Premila Kumar confirmed to Fijivillage news that the directive to remove food items with labels in a foreign language was issued earlier this week following concerns raised by the Council.

Kumar also revealed that they are inundated with complaints from unhappy Christmas shoppers and complaints against defective appliances and rude taxi drivers top the list.