By PRISCA MBEWE  –
FOR some people, checking the expiry date on food stuffs before buying is not taken seriously and yet the consequences of consuming such food can lead to health complications.
This is because when products get expired they become contaminated thus posing a health hazard to the consumer.
Consuming expired foods could also cost life.It is against this background that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) public relations officer Hanford Chaaba advised members of the public to be wary about eating expired food which can cause serious health problems.
He said when the product is expired, it means that it has outlived its shelf life and has lost its usefulness.
Mr Chaaba said foodstuffs that have gone beyond expiration date may cause severe irritation and infections including physical discomfort such as stomach upset which might or might not be accompanied by vomiting.
“Checking the expiry date is very important and; it saves you from buying products that are expired.
“It can also prevent you from putting your health at risk as a result of consuming expired products,” he said.
He advised the public to ensure that they do not buy foodstuffs that have lived beyond their expired date.
Mr Chaaba said the right food contains all nutrients the body needs to perform functions like repairing cells and preventing some illnesses and it may save one from preventable expenses.
He said eating good food nourishes the body and eventually leads to someone becoming productive.
Mr Chaaba said this is the reason the commission has engaged traditional leaders and school clubs in rural areas so as to sensitize the people on the importance of checking the expiry date before buying the product.
“People in rural areas are the most affected ones because some may find it difficult to tell if the food or product has passed its expiry date especially with pre-packaged food,” he said.
He said an obvious sign of knowing if the food has passed its expiry date is by being aware of the discount products and another way is that of making sure that one does not buy expired products by checking the expiry date.
“One has to make sure that the product has an expiring date. Traders at times tend to rub off the label of the expiry date. If there is no expiry or manufacturing date, then you are better off not buying the product,” he said.
Mr Chaaba gave examples of some of the dry foods that can be stored in a dry place for a longer period which includes salt and sugar.
He explained that the expiry dates are there to safeguard consumers from eating toxic foods.
Consumers have the right to know what ingredients are in the food they are eating, and how safe it is.
“Products labels should include the expiry date, the name of the manufacture and their contact details, the name of the product andingredients in the products and how to use them,” Mr Chaaba said
He also made it clear that there is nothing wrong for retailers to sell the product a week or day before expiry date.
Nonetheless, Mr Chaaba warned retailers selling expired goods which are not labeled that the practice is illegal and the law would visit them.
According to the CCPC Act, it is a criminal offence to sell expired or unlabeled products as it puts the lives of the consumers in danger.
Those found wanting risk being prosecuted if found guilty in a court of law.
National Food and Nutrition Commission of Zambia (NFNC) Chief Nutritionist Freddie Mubanga said it is important to eat food whichhas all the nutrients.
He said foods that have passed its expiry date has no nutritional value to add to one’s diet because good nutrition means getting the amount of nutrients from healthy food.
“Hence the reason for making the smart choice about the foods you eat can help you achieve optimum health over your lifetime and it can be a key to avoid certain illnesses,” he said.
Mr Mubanga explained that the human body needs food for energy, repairing body cells, preventing sicknesses and healing.
He said it is important to be healthy because it makes people feel good and enables them to enjoy life to the fullest potential.
“Therefore, consumers should read the labels and manuals and follow instructions written or oral, and do everything they can to avoid eating contaminated foods.
“This is because some of the illnesses can be avoided by paying extra attention to the food we eat.
“Reading the product label can save you from future health problems,” he said.
He said it is important that consumers check the expiry date on food products before buying or consuming them in order to protect theirhealth from products which have gone bad.
A Lusaka retailer Abraham Sakala says he makes sure that before he buys any product for his shop, he checks the expiry date to avoid being visited by the CCPC as well as losing customers.
“Retailers should be cautious about the products traders sell as we know that you can’t defend your actions by claiming that you didn’t know the law; ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking the law,”Mr Sakala said.
He said it is prudent therefore that both consumers and traders pay particular attention to expiry date on foodstuffs to ensure onlyhealthy food is consumed.