Cama pounces on Asian shops selling expired goods

The Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has destroyed expired products it confiscated from Asian shops in Mzuzu.

The association carried the exercise on Thursday to protect consumers from exploitation and health risks effects of such products. The products ranged from cosmetics to beverages.

Cama regional coordinator Isaac Gondwe said Cama confiscated the products after consumer complained that the Asians were selling expired products.

He said such products are not supposed to be sold as they are a threat to people’s lives while selling them is tantamount to duping consumers.

“Expired products are very dangerous and are a threat to people’s lives. Most of the products become poisonous and selling to consumers is a health risk, but it also means duping them. People who sell such products need to be taken to task.

“It is important that consumers should always check the expiry date on the products before they buy them,” he said.

Mzuzu City assistant health and environmental director Christopher Aissa Banda said expired cosmetics are a health hazard.

“Expired products such as body lotion or perfume are very dangerous and they may cause skin cancer when they come in contact with the skin. We (health department) inspect shops to ensure that the products are not expired,” said Banda.