Monze council s eizes expired foods, personal care products

MONZE Town Council has seized an assortment of expired foodstuff and personal care products from various shops in the district.

Council Public Relations Officer, Kanchele Kanchele said officers from the District Health Department and the council’s Public Health Department have been carrying out impromptu visits to various shops in line with the Public Health Act Chapter 295 and Food Safety Act No.7 of 2019 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mr Kanchele said the spot checks were aimed at ensuring that shop owners do not sell expired goods to residents, especially foodstuff which could cause health problems.

He said the team had so far conducted inspections on shops in the Central Business District (CBD) and surrounding markets.

He said the council had confiscated a variety of expired foods.

The items seized included Mayonnaise, Chicco biscuits, baked beans, Tingling, Eet-Sum-More biscuits, Power drinks, Joe biscuits, Vanilla biscuits and Icing Sugar.

Others were Ajax, Lifebuoy, Cleared lotion and Johnson’s baby powder among others.

And commenting on the development, Council Chairperson Powell Mutenguna called on shop owners to remove expired foods and personal care products from their shelves.

Mr Mutenguna warned that the local authority would not hesitate to invoke provisions of the law to penalise and prosecute those found wanting. He said stocking expired foods and personal care products had health implications on consumers. Mr Mutenguna called on the residents to be vigilant and report retail shops that were selling expired goods to consumers.

The seized items have since been disposed of.