Major food supplier fined for selling expired products

Colombo, June 7 (Daily Mirror) - A leading food supplier in Nugegoda has been fined Rs. 75,000 and ordered to destroy a stock of food items after pleading guilty to multiple consumer protection violations.

The case was filed before the Gangodawila Magistrate's Court following a raid conducted by officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) on June 4 at the premises of Asriel Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, located on Pagoda Road, Nugegoda.

Court proceedings revealed that the company had stored expired food items together with non-expired products, offered goods for sale without displaying importer or distributor details, and acted in a manner likely to mislead consumers.

After considering the facts, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 75,000 on the company and ordered the destruction of the food stock connected to the case.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Affairs Authority urged consumers to carefully check labels, manufacturing and expiry dates, and importer or distributor information before purchasing food products. The authority also advised the public to avoid buying items with suspicious packaging or missing mandatory information.

Consumers who encounter similar illegal or misleading practices are encouraged to report them to the Consumer Affairs Authority via its 1977 hotline during office hours.