Uche Alexis|29 November 2017
As the clamp down on unwholesome food in the State continues, the State Food Safety and Inspection Unit of the Ministry of Health, has confiscated and destroyed more than 60 packs of expired soft drinks in one of the popular retail stores in Calabar.
It all began during one of the routine inspection in retail stores along Marian Road by the FSIS unit of the State Ministry of Health this week where the team intercepted a large number of expired products stashed in the shop and waiting to be sold to unsuspecting consumers.
Following thorough questioning the shop owner said he bought the drinks from the Coca Cola depot at Flour Mill in August knowing full well that the items were due to expire in September, but claimed he didn't check their dates of expiration.
The Coca cola sales representative at the depot who simply gave his name as Emmanuel said they shutdown their business activities in the depot in September.
Dr. Inyang Asibong who led the team ordered the immediate closure of the store and destruction of the expired products. She warned dealers of edible products to desist from the dastardly act or risk facing the full wrath of the Cross River State Government. She however commended the customer for reporting the matter to the authorities.
Following the closure of the retail store and destruction of the expired products, The Director of FSISU, Mr Joseph Ingwu, has since started investigation to apprehend the other customers that bought this same products. He said the health and well-being of the people depends largely on the quality of edible things they consume, and assured that the food safety of the people is not negotiable.
The public are advised to make conscious efforts to always check the expiry date of anything before they consume to avoid ingesting toxic products.
Uche Alexis
Writes from Calabar
