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Vermin infested food unloaded on customers
View(s):The cost of food is one of the most topical subjects these days and the mass of ordinary people find it difficult to keep body and soul together. But unscrupulous traders targeting unsuspecting customers are attempting to make unconscionable profit via sale of rice and other commodities unfit for human consumption.
Innocent consumers continue to be targeted by these unscrupulous elements of society, whose only motive is to make a profit at any cost. The Public Health Inspector’s (PHI) at Beruwela this week, raided a supermarket in Payagala on a tip-off and seized around 2,300 kg of rice that was unfit for human consumption.
The PHIs found the stock of rice was infested with weevils. They also detected other food items whose dates of expiry had passed. Many of these items were found to be rat-eaten or infested with insects and vermin.
The value of the stock of contaminated goods estimated at Rs.5 million was sealed by PHI officials to be produced in Court.
However after the owner of the shop pleaded guilty to charges of possessing food unfit for human consumption, PHIs took steps to destroy the stock of rice.
Section of the stock of weevil-infested rice
Even geckos were found feasting on items traders were preparing to unload on unsuspecting customers
Section of the stock of weevil-infested rice
A section of the contaminated goods discovered by PHIs at a supermarket in Beruwela