Over 7,900 kgs of rice unfit for human consumption detected

Chaminda PERERA

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) yesterday during a raid conducted on a shop at Fifth Cross Street, Pettah detected a consignment of rice weighing over 7,980 kilogrammes which was unfit for human consumption.

Officials said that the consignment was about to be released to the market after altering the expiry date, when CAA officials conducted the raid.

The Authority has increased the number of raids conducted in Colombo and the suburbs to prevent essential commodities that are unsuitable for human consumption being released to the market. Regular raids are also being conducted to prevent wholesale dealers from hoarding stocks in order to create an artificial shortage in the open market during the festive season. The raids are being conducted on the directive of Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando.

In another raid, CAA officials recently detected 5,300 kilograms of outdated dhal and 25 sacks of tamarind weighing 25 kilogrammes in Pettah.