The Government-Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAFDD) has issued a consumer advisory to consumers and the general public about the canned fish product with a given common name “Jack Mackerel” which is either Pacific Jack Mackerel also known as Californian Jack Mackerel, or Chilean Jack Mackerel also known Inca Scad.
According to a media release from the GAFDD, while there are many other species of mackerel fish found throughout the world the “Jack Mackerel” species are distributed only along the Western Coast of North America, in the South Pacific off the coast of Chile and Peru, and around the New Zealand and South Australia.
The GAFDD said in the media bulletin that the department had been intercepting containers at the city wharves, and finding on the shelves of the local market, labels of canned mackerel that are false, deceptive and/or misleading and are in some cases creating an erroneous impression – according to the the Laws of Guyana Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03, Section six – as to the exact species of mackerel fish that are placed in the cans.
The consumer advisory release also said that the word “Jack” is used either as or part of a brand name on canned mackerel which is not from any of the aforementioned locations and can mislead consumers. In addition, the exact name and addresses of the manufacturers or packers are omitted contrary to GAFDD regulations.
There are also instances where the cases of the same label are being used by a different manufacturer or packer from the same country of origin and where the same product (Jack Mackerel) with such a label is being imported by different importers.
The GAFFD bulletin also advises importers to ensure that imported products are properly labelled and contains the following information in English language: brand and common name of the product, the exact name and address of manufacturer/packer and the country of origin, net content, list of ingredients, nutritional value, manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number, valid barcode, and embossed or printed codes that provide additional details. The latter codes can include details such as packer’s plant identification which are necessary for the purpose of traceability in accordance with the Codex guidelines.
The media bulletin added that consumers should be extra cautious with product(s) which are being offered for sale at prices that varies significantly from the usual, as these products may be false, substandard, counterfeited or expired.
The GAFDD advisory also stated that the department would continue to work with stakeholders particularly the Customs-Trade Administration, Regional Environmental Health officers and members of the National and Food Safety and Control Committees to prevent substandard food products from being released for sale on our local market.
