Report Bad Products, FCCC Urges
Members of the public are advised to contact the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) should they find issues with products sold at their local supermarkets.
This was the advice given by FCCC’s chief executive officer, Joel Abraham while responding to questions about the food safety inspection that would be carried out nationwide.
Mr Abraham said as part of the collaborative work between them, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Trade, a food safety inspection would be conducted nationwide to inspect if items sold were good for consumption.
“While this is a proactive approach, we are constantly appealing to consumers to be vigilant when going out shopping and to understand that it is incumbent on them to check. If they find issues, they shouldn’t hesitate to call or file a complaint with the FCCC,” Mr Abraham said.
“This is to ensure that we are able to assist the Food Safety Unit of the Ministry of Health and enable us to take enforcement actions.” Mr Abraham said the ongoing issue involved shop owners who were still selling expired imported food items and damaged canned foods. He said they were looking at inspecting bulk stores, that is, how the food items are stored.
“There will be guidelines set for shop owners to follow as we move along with our inspection, however we don’t want to reveal too much information because we want to add an element of surprise in our inspection,” he said.
“Our officers will conduct their inspections in civilian clothing, and they (shop owners) won’t know when they’re being visited.”
The FCCC enforcement team will be teaming up with heath inspectors from Rakiraki, Nadi and Sigatoka Town Councils.
Mr Abraham said the ongoing issue here involved shop owners who were still selling expired imported food items and damaged tin food stuff.