ZFDA seizes 1,232.64kg of expired meat products
ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Food and Drugs Agency (ZFDA) has seized a total of 1,232.64 kilograms of meat products found to have expired after they were discovered in a cold storage facility belonging to JM Investment Company, located at Fuoni Ijitimai.
Speaking to media outlets following the incident, ZFDA Food Inspector Dr Thamra Khamis Talib said the seized items included 55 boxes of sausages weighing 660 kilograms imported from Dubai, 254 packages of chicken nuggets weighing 103.4 kilograms from Turkey, 58 packages of chicken breast weighing 34 kilograms, and 12 packages of beef weighing 15.24 kilograms.
Dr Thamra explained that the products were discovered during a routine inspection conducted by ZFDA officers, who found that the items had been stored in non-original packaging and that expiry dates had been altered—an act that constitutes a legal offense.
She noted that because the products are unsafe for human consumption, ZFDA has confiscated them and will continue to hold them until the owner completes all procedures for their destruction, as a measure to protect consumers.
“We observed that approximately 420 kilograms of sausages imported from Dubai had their packaging and labeling altered, while some of the other products had changed from their original color. These are clear indications that the products are unfit for human consumption. According to the law, they must be destroyed. We have instructed the trader to report to our offices to complete the destruction procedures at their own cost, and further legal action will be taken in accordance with ZFDA laws,” she said.
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She also urged other traders to act responsibly by cooperating with ZFDA in safeguarding food safety, warning that strict legal measures will be taken against anyone who violates the law.
Dr Thamra added that ZFDA will continue providing public education to raise awareness about food safety issues and encouraged members of the public to report traders who breach food safety regulations.
Meanwhile, an official from JM Investment Company, who requested anonymity, stated that the company had only purchased the container and that the products inside it were intended for disposal.
