ZACA urges consumers to always check food stuffs expiry dates

The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has bemoaned the increased number of expired food products being sold in many Zambian markets.

ZACA Executive Director Muyunda Illilonga has since advised members of the public to always check for the expiry date before buying any food products.

Mr. Illilonga told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that consumers must care about what they consume hence the need for them to know the expiry dates of food products.

He observed that expired food stuffs were a health hazard to human beings.

Mr. Illilonga has since appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to ensure that health inspectors were vigilant and were monitoring all traders that sell food products on the market.

He added that constant monitoring would help traders to desist from selling expired food products.

Mr. Illilonga stressed that those that were in the habit of selling expired food products should be brought to book immediately.

He stated that this would act as a deterrent to would be offenders.

Mr. Illilonga said ZACA would continue conducting sensitization and education programmes on the dangers of selling and consuming expired food products.

In another development, Mr. Illilonga has called on government to address the issue of street vending across the country.

He said street vendors should be removed from the streets and be taken to designated markets where they will sell their merchandise from.