In addition to the recent price hikes, consumers have to experience further problems when they are cheated by supermarkets and grocery stores into buying expired food items and goods priced above the maximum retail price.
M.Y.M. Razzack from Silmiyapura, Welimada, said that he recently saw most of his neighbours taken ill after consuming expired food items. “There have been instances when we have bought food items due to expire within a month’s time, but on opening find the contents already spoilt. This had happened even with dairy items,” he said.He further said that most vendors only consider their business and the rapid sale of their remaining stocks, with not a care for the consumers’ health.
There are also instances where leading supermarkets have re-priced their goods and sold it above the maximum retail prices. “When prices increase, supermarkets will definitely increase the prices of their products, but when the prices reduce, they never reduce the prices. Presently, the prices of almost all the essential goods have risen, in such a situation, if the vendors cheat on consumers it brings upon more problems,” he added,
Mr. Razzack also said, “Authorities conduct raids in urban areas, but rarely do so in rural areas. I think the authorities should conduct more raids in rural areas too”
Ms. D. Bandara, a mother of three said that she is usually extra careful when buying dairy products, because some vendors sell short shelf life or expired products which can be very harmful, since dairy products, once expired, are a perfect breeding place for bacteria.“It is wrong of sellers to resort to such demeaning business practices with profit making as their only motive. Some vendors sell consumer goods at prices in excess of their maximum retail price. Ultimately, the ones who are affected by all these unethical practices are the consumers, who fight every single day of their lives to cope with the ever increasing cost of living" she said
S. Archana from Polhengoda, working at a private firm, said that, Sri Lanka being a developing country where many people have only two meals, it is unfair to increase the prices of dairy items. Hence, the vendors are very unjust to sell dairy items above the maximum retail price.
“I have consumed dairy items which have become rancid before their expiry dates. Dairy products are very essential food items sold at high prices, and most people now find it very difficult to afford them. If these products are of poor quality, it is a waste of money for the consumers. Due to such incidents, the purchasing power of the consumers are depleted” she added.
P. Wijeyasiri from Kesbewa stated that he has encountered expired goods several times, mostly chicken, salmon tins, egg and dairy products. But, even if you get an expired milk packet, it can always be returned, unlike the problem of tampering with maximum retail prices.
“The vendors sell in excess of the original price approved by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), when it comes to milk powder and other dairy items such as cheese. I think the government should show greater consideration to these issues.”
The CAA conducted almost 4,000 raids last year, raking in over Rs 105 million by way of fines.
According to CAA Chairman Rumy Marzook, an average of 6,000 raids are conducted every month.
“The Minister ordered us to increase our targets. We earlier made 1,000 to 2,000 raids per month, but recently, it was increased to between 5,000 and 6,000," he said .
He further said that, most of the cases detected are of items sold after their expiry dates have long passed. “We have brought to the attention of all vendors to remove all their expired items. We have our investigative officers looking into this to take necessary action,” he added.
The CAA has conducted some 16,000 raids, earning a revenue of Rs. 32 million to date this year. Commenting on the above issue, Mr Marzook said that defacing prices is a violation under the Consumer Protection Act. Once the price is displayed on the packet, it cannot be defaced. |
E-mail
