A Linden business was recently found to be repackaging flour, sugar and rice without a special permit, in violation of the Food and Drugs Act.
As a result, the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department is urging consumers to carefully examine foods prior to purchasing from wholesale and retail outlets.
In a statement, the Food and Drug Department said the Environmental Health Department of Region 10 seized large quantities of empty packaging materials, which were labelled “Regal Supreme Quality Parboiled Rice,” with an address of Kingston Free Zone 31-32 Shannon Driver, Kingston 15, Jamaica, West Indies along with bags of flour.
The materials were seized from a business premises in Linden. It was discovered that the proprietor was repackaging flour, sugar and rice into the bags, despite the labelling.
The Food and Drug Department noted that under Food and Drug Act, it is illegal for anyone to “label, package, sell or advertise an article of food in a manner that is false misleading or deceptive, or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety.”
It added that legal repackaging of bulk food items can only be done with a permit. The permit would indicate that the Department had undertaken investigations to certify that the permit holder is in compliance with good hygiene requirements and the labels of packages follow proper legislation.
The Department stated that businesses found in violation of the Food and Drugs Act are liable to fines and imprisonment.
