Shopkeepers warned against selling fake, expired goods

ZANZIBAR: RETAIL and wholesale shopkeepers here have been cautioned against selling fake, substandard and expired goods that endanger consumers’ health.

The Zanzibar Food and Drug Agency (ZFDA) issued this caution as part of an intensified crackdown on illegal products in local markets.

Shopkeepers found selling expired goods are in violation of the law and must remove such items from their shelves or face legal consequences.

The ZFDA has advised consumers to carefully check labels and expiry dates before purchasing products and to report any concerns to the authorities.

During the last week’s operations, the ZFDA in collaboration with the Police seized expired food and cosmetic products in various stores in some areas of urban centres, particularly in the western districts.

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ZFDA’s Director of Food Safety and Efficiency Control Department, Dr Khamis Ali Omar mentioned that the seized expired goods included one tonne of cooking oil, beer, canned beans and corn, sweet cones, bottled milk, as well as noodles found in the warehouse owned by ‘Cross Border Trading Company Limited’ located in Tomondo, West ‘B’ District.

“We also discovered the presence of some businessmen operating without following the rules and procedures,” Mr Omar said, adding that other out-of-date items confiscated during the inspection exercise are soap and cosmetics found in various shops in the area.

He explained that apart from the expiry date, some products have been banned from entering Zanzibar due to having toxic substances, or unsafe for human consumption.

“It is sad that some traders have been found to have forged the expiration date.

Please be honest in business.”

He vowed that ZFDA will continue conducting regular inspections to check the safety of products, in both retail, wholesale, stores, and in warehouses and all offenders will be punished.