FDA Fines Shoprite For Deceiving Customers With Imported Frozen Chicken
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says it has fined Shoprite for selling imported frozen chicken but labelling it as locally produced chicken and selling to customers.
The FDA on Tuesday closed down the meat section of Shoprite at the Accra Mall.
The closure followed a complaint to the FDA that Shoprite was selling thawed imported frozen chicken as fresh local chicken to customers.
An investigation by the FDA confirmed what was deemed to be fraud on customers by mislabeling the product.
According to the FDA, the practice by Shoprite apart from being a deception also had health implications.
“Apart from it being deception, it also has some health implications, because we all know that you don’t actually thaw a frozen product and then put it back into the freezer for it to freeze,” Akua Amartey, Deputy Chief Executive of the FDA said.
“And most people who patronize these products think they’ve bought fresh chicken, some of them will definitely also freeze and you know what happens, when products are thawed at certain temperatures, micro-organisms start brewing in them and they produce toxins.”
“So someone will say but you boiled the chicken, yes you boiled it, the micro-organisms will die but the toxins they’ve already produced are still in the meat and that is where when you consume food prepared from such means, you have some form of health challenges,” she added