Food labelling tampering uncovered at major retailers

A National Consumer Commission investigation has lifted the lid on widespread unlawful alteration, replacement and removal of food labels at Shoprite, Spar, OK Foods, U-save and other stores. The commission found 84 retailers in Mpumalanga and North West that were guilty of tampering with labels on many basic food items, such as eggs, milk, tea, mincemeat, baby formula, chocolates, biscuits and cheese. Commission inspectors reportedly told The Times they were 'shocked' by what they had seen. Food labels were erased with marking fluid and others had been torn off, ingredient lists were missing and homemade labels, with false expiry dates, had been placed over original labels. Some items had no labelling at all. The commission's head of investigations, Prudence Moilwa, said all the guilty shops had signed forms undertaking to rectify their wrongful practices. Shoprite has attributed the discoveries to 'human error', while Spar says stores are individually owned and controlled. The commission plans to extend its investigation to the rest of the country, believing that labelling crimes are rife. Full report in The Times