Substandard potatoes, onions and eggs sold by some supermarkets

Serious concerns have been raised about rotten potatoes, onions and eggs being sold at some supermarkets and shops.

The Consumer Council of Fiji confirms they have received official complaints regarding the substandard food products, which are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action is taken to address the issue ensuring consumer satisfaction.

Council Chief Executive Officer Seema Shandil says during their market surveillance, they have also discovered several supermarkets having such issues which have been referred for enforcement actions.

She says their team regularly conducts checks and inspections at supermarkets and other retail outlets to assess the quality of food products and identify any instances of sub-standard or unsafe items being sold.

In a video going viral on social media, it can be seen that the eggs sold in some supermarkets are about to hatch. Some people have also raised concerns that many times, the eggs smell bad, are cracked and the rotten potatoes and onions are not removed from the shelves. Consumers also say the prices of these items are increasing however, the quality is substandard and unhygienic.

The CEO further says from November to date, they have conducted 366 market surveillance whereby such issues are identified and appropriate actions are taken against the shops and individuals responsible including warnings or referral to enforcement agencies and joint inspections, depending on the severity of the violation.

Shandil says they are actively engaged in addressing these concerns and work closely with the Ministry of Health, Municipal Councils, supermarket chains, and suppliers, to monitor the quality of food products and take necessary actions to uphold consumer rights such as advocating for improved quality control measures, conducting awareness campaigns, and collaborating with authorities to enforce regulations.

She says the council also works to educate consumers about their rights and provide guidance on how to identify and report any concerns about product quality.