Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica has expressed his disappointment and also warned supermarket owners, retailers and wholesalers not to sell inferior products to consumers during this festive season to gain profits.
This is after the FCCC found garlic infested with cockroaches for sale at a supermarket during a joint Food Safety inspection with Sigatoka Town Council Health Inspectors earlier yesterday.
An earlier joint inspection conducted last week found a similar breach where a supermarket was selling chickens that had spoiled due to inadequate refrigeration.
Health Inspectors immediately removed the tainted items from the supermarket and took them for condemnation upon discovery.
The Deputy Prime Minister says there is no excuse to sell spoiled goods that are unfit for human consumption.
Kamikamica says they will ensure that strict action is taken against these retailers, and this is exactly why the Food and Safety joint inspection campaign was convened – to prevent such cases and ensure that the health and safety of our citizens are not put at risk.
When questioned by fijvillage News on which supermarket was breaching the Food Safety Act and what actions are being taken, the Deputy Prime Minister says it’s policy that they do not name the supermarkets.
He says there might be a need for better regulation soon, and hopefully in the New Year, they will make some legislative changes to try and tighten up some of those areas.
FCCC CEO Joel Abraham has issued a stern warning, stating that FCCC will not compromise on food safety.
He says such conduct by retailers is unacceptable, and they will face the full brunt of the law. Abraham says they have zero tolerance for any retailer that has such blatant disregard for the health and safety of their customers.
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