Warnings issued to supermarkets for selling unsafe meat products

Four supermarkets in the Central Division have been issued warning letters for selling meat that did not meet the expected standards of quality, such as thawed or discoloured meat, broken vacuum packaging and meat infested with flies.

The Consumer Council of Fiji has confirmed this and says they conducted surveillance on September 4th and 11th, targeting 11 supermarkets to assess the quality of meat.

While responding to questions by fijivillage News, they say in cases where written warnings were not warranted, the managers were given verbal warnings.

The Council says additionally, they have informed the supermarkets about the necessary practices and standards that must be adhered to in order to ensure meat quality is maintained.

They say some of these matters have also been escalated to the municipal councils to ensure proper oversight and to prevent future occurrences.

They say these measures are part of their ongoing commitment to safeguard consumer interests and uphold food safety standards.

The Council is urging consumers to exercise caution and be vigilant when purchasing meat products and if you come across any meat that appears spoiled or of poor quality, such as exhibiting off-putting smells, discolouration, unusual textures, or signs of damaged or improperly sealed packaging, they strongly advise against purchasing or consuming it.

They say these indicators often signify that the meat is not fit for consumption and could pose health risks.

The Council is also encouraging consumers to report any instances of bad quality meat to the Council.

They add to facilitate a thorough investigation, please provide as much detail as possible, including the name of the supermarket, the type of meat in question, the date of purchase, and any supporting evidence such as receipts or photographs.