Johnston cracks whip

Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday directed the Consumer Affairs Authority chairman to inspect all essential food distribution centres, wholesale store rooms and large-scale wholesale shops countrywide to ensure that they sell hygienic food items to the public.

He also directed the Authority's chairman to seize any spoilt or unhygenic food items found in them and produce them in courts along with the suspects. He has also ordered the chairman to inspect all hotels, eateries and night sales outlets to ensure that they don't sell outdated food items and use spoilt vegetables and fruits for preparation of food and drinks. This follows the detection of a large stock of spoilt food items including potatoes, dhal and sprats in a wholesale depot at Bloemendhal Road and instituted court action against the suspects arrested in this connection, said a press release by the Co-operatives and Internal Trade Ministry.