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Rotten state of affairs at Sathosa stores
View(s):Beware:Onions, potatoes, sugar adulterated with sand sold to the public. Aanya Wipulasena reports
Tons of rotten onions, potatoes and dried fish were taken out of state- and private-owned warehouses and destroyed after being declared unfit for human consumption. The decomposing items was discovered in raids carried out by the investigations unit of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).
Rotten onions seized at the Sathosa on D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha. Pic by Hasitha Kulasekara
Part of the condemned stocks, which were being sold at below market price, had already been dispatched to food outlets that sell rice packets and other food products. More than 200,000 kilos of rotten onions, potatoes and other food products were seized in a series of raids conducted last week.
Chief Public Health Inspector W. G. Karunathilake told the Sunday Times that the authority would be inspecting restaurants and other food outlets to check the quality of the food being sold. “Unhealthy food is sold to unsuspecting customers,” he said. “We will ensure this will not happen again. We intend to regulate all food outlets, restaurants and hotels.”
Last week, the Consumer Affairs Authority seized 45,000 kilos of onions, 30,000
Seized sprats: Awaiting a report from the Government Analyst
kilos potatoes, more than 180,000 kilos of sugar contaminated with sand, and 17,000 kilos of dried fish declared unfit for human consumption, CAA chairman Rumy Marzook told the newspaper. During the raids, 16,000 kilos of rotten onions from India were seized at the Sathosa Cooperative Wholesale Establishment warehouse in Colombo 2; 15,000 kilos of rotten onions were discovered in the CWE at Welisara; 12,000 kilos of onions were seized at the CWE Kurunegala last Saturday, and 28,000 kilos of decomposing potatoes were detected at the Dambulla Economic Centre on Monday (31 December).
The Dambulla Municipality and Dambulla Police Environment Unit raided warehouses where more than 40,000 kilos of rotting onions and potatoes were stored. “We found workers at the warehouse cleaning and repacking the rotting food products,” Dambulla Municipality Mayor Jaliya Opatha told the newspaper.
The Sunday Times learns that containers full of rotten potatoes and onions were sold at Rs. 8,000 to 12,000. If the goods were in a
Sand in seized brown sugar in Sedawatte. Pic by Indika Handuwla
good state, they could sell for Rs. 1.7 million. “The businessmen were fined more than Rs. 100,000 each and the condemned produce destroyed by the Colombo Municipal Council,” Mayor Opatha said.
A. Jasoor, chief of the Consumer Affairs Authority Raiding Unit, Colombo District, said the raids were conducted after a tip-off was received by the Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, Johnston Fernando. “When my team went to inspect the CWE warehouse, they were overpowered by the stench of rotting onions. When they emptied the sacks, they even found worms in the onions. When our officers went to seize the condemned produce, they found boards put up saying ‘not for sale.’ This was to escape a legal hassle.”
Consumer Affairs Authority acting deputy director Asela Bandara told the newspaper, “We have relaxed the tendering criteria for local produce such as onions and potatoes, and that’s the reason unscrupulous businessmen are cashing in on decayed produce.”
Last year the Consumer Affairs Authority raided more than 30,000 businesses found to be violating the Food Act and were fined more
Seized potatoes in Galewela. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
than Rs. 19 million.
Consumer Affairs Authority director general J. M. A. Douglas said this type of illegal business was especially widespread during a festive season. “The offenders prey on the unsuspecting public. People buy in bulk during festive times and they are looking for bargains. They are the biggest victims. We appeal to the public to inform us when they notice such illegal activity. The Consumer Affairs Authority will act immediately.”
The Ministry has appointed a panel of officers to investigate how decomposing food produce comes into the country.
| CWE is now making profits, says Minister Johnston Fernando
At least 40,000 raids against illegal traders have been conducted in the past year, since Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando took over. In the past, an average 4,000 raids were carried out each year. “We have assigned officers to work 24 hours a day so that when we get a tip-off we can act immediately,” the Minister told the newspapers. “There was a time when the CWE was infested with rats and other vermin. Now the CWE is a clean place, and in a position to make profits,” the Minister said. |
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