(3 minutes read)
The ongoing sale of expired and unsafe food products in Lesotho is becoming a significant public health issue. Foreign businesses, especially those owned by Chinese nationals, exploit the country’s weak regulations and lax enforcement to sell outdated items to consumers.
As the Christmas holidays descend upon the country, the streets are adorned with twinkling lights and the aroma of festive treats wafts through the air. But beneath the merry façade, a disturbing problem has cast a shadow over the joyous season-expired goods being sold in foreign-owned shops across the country, posing a serious threat to the health and safety of unsuspecting consumers.
These businessmen are taking advantage of the heightened demand for food in the face of the Christmas season’s festive allure and excitement. With Basotho often buying items in large quantities, either individually or as part of stokvels, the shops’ disregard for food safety regulations has put consumers at great risk. The absence of clear laws and regulations to address this issue has left consumers vulnerable to potential health hazards, putting their health and safety at risk.
The president of the Consumer Protection Association, Nkareng Letsie, says the absence of strict laws regulating the maximum shelf life of products in the country is a major concern for consumers. Letsie indicated that without a clear legal framework to address the practices, the country essentially fighting a losing battle.
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Relevant stakeholders like inspectors can’t take effective legal action against these foreign-owned businesses when there is no legal tool to hold them accountable, even though this is putting the health and safety of Basotho consumers at risk, Letsie added. He explained that the Public Health Order No.12 of 1970, which is the only existing legal tool in Lesotho, falls short of addressing the full scope of the issue as it only covers goods that pose an immediate risk to human health. It does not provide any guidance on expired products that may not cause immediate harm but could still pose long-term health risks.
Letsie emphasised the need for swift legislative action to protect Basotho consumers from dangerous and deceptive practices. Parliament must enact laws that hold businesses accountable for the quality and safety of the products they sell. Lesotho needs to adopt strict regulations that clearly define what constitutes expired goods and what the consequences are for businesses that break these rules.
