30 tonnes expired foodstuffs destroyed

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO Municipality’s health department has destroyed about 30 tonnes of expired foodstuffs worth thousands of dollars that were being sold by a number of shops in the city. Health inspectors discovered the expired goods during regular inspections on food quality and standards at the business outlets which have also been fined.

The expired goods include margarine, eggs, yoghurt, lotions, and milk products.
The items were destroyed in the presence of the police, health inspectors and shop owners.

In an interview, town clerk Adolf Gusha said their operation was meant to enforce the law.
“Our objective is not to destroy food but we strive to help the public consume non-toxic food. We just want to ensure that all food commodities adhere to Health Act and Food Act,” said Gusha.

He said local authorities have a mandate of overseeing the quality of food sold by shops within their jurisdiction and should from time to time educate businesses on the dangers of selling expired foodstuffs.

“We have a duty to play on safeguarding the quality of food on the shop shelves by checking their shelf life. We do not expect businesses to sell food commodities that have passed their shelf life,” he said.

City health director Zvapano Munganasa said some shops surrendered their expired food stuffs voluntarily and they also witnessed the destruction.
“I think we are doing the right thing because some shops are bringing their expired foodstuffs. However, most of them are caught unaware and these are the ones that are fined. The items referred here date back from January up to June and shows the extent of some businesses’ ignorance on observing food standards. We are only enforcing government laws under the Health Act,” he said.

“Most shops especially, wholesalers would order food commodities in bulk hoping to dispose them before they expire. However, partly because of limited disposable incomes that our residents have, they will not be able to buy them until they pass their shelf life. The business would find it difficult to destroy them and instead put them on the shelves to dispose of them at discounted prices.”