Shoprite shut over sale of Expired products!

Again, in the news over floating of food safety laws and standards of Lagos-State Government, Nigeria is another multi-billion naira, multi-national retail shopping outlets of Shoprite, which was shut down by the agency of the government, Lagos-State Safety Commission, on Friday, 27th November, 2015.

The retail outlet of Shoprite at the Ikeja Shopping Mall at Alausa, very close to the seat of power, was shut down over alleged breach and contravening of the state food safety standards which bordered on several complaints received from members of the public about the sale of adulterated and expired products and the repeated refusal of the outlet management to heed several warnings from the agency of the government on some of their unwholesome practices.

Our investigation revealed that products that were supposed to expire in a months time were still been displayed on the shelves of Shoprite outlet inside at Alausa inside Ikeja shopping mall which is not part of the agreement reached with the commission.

The entrance door was sealed with the sticker of the Lagos State safety Commission which reads, “This premises had been sealed following the breach of the safety laws. This seal must not be broken. For further enquiry, contact the commission”.

If you will recall, The Shoprite Group of Company according to reports started from a South African small town in 1979 with the purchase of a chain of 8 supermarkets in Cape Town for 1 Million R and have grown steadily in the last 30years with the most  innovative expansion strategy which increases their asset base to Seventy two (R72) Billion Rand.

From Foodpreneur News perspectives, the Issues arising from this closure are:

• What is Lagos State Safety Commission trying to achieve with the closure of Shoprite?
• Are we sure this arm of Lagos-State government  not after administrative charges or revenue drive?
• Has the agency of the government quantify the health implications of the usage of the adulterated and expired raw products?
• What happen to the adulterated and expired food products that were still on the shelves?
• Can any of the buyers of food products/ items sue Shoprite Group of Company for selling expired food items to them?
• What is the role of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on the right of consumers?
• Why did all these multi-nationals  see Nigeria as a place where they can always get away with a lot of unwholesome practices?
• Why do we treat the health and safety of lives of an average Nigerians with levity?

All these and many other questions are seriously begging for answers by the consumers from Lagos-State Safety Commission, before it is swept under the carpet like that of Chocolate Royale.

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