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29 March 2024

Buyer beware: Discounted food products may be near expiry

Buyer beware: Discounted food products may be nearing expiry dates

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By Staff

Consumers in Dubai and Sharjah are complaining that shops are promoting sales of food products that are about to expire, the Arabic daily newspaper ‘Emarat Al Youm’ has reported.

Buyers say shops are offering discounted prices on food products that are expiring within a week or a month.

Consumers are demanding that signs be displayed, indicating that such food products are about to expire because some people may buy them without checking expiry dates.

But some supermarket officials said it is normal and legal to promote foodstuffs at discounted prices so long as they are within their expiry dates.

The Ministry of Economy clarified that the law does not prevent display of goods as long as they are within their expiry dates.

However, the ministry stressed that it does not recommend buying goods which have been stored for long time.

Mohamed Ibrahim, a consumer, said recently some shops had announced great offers on some foodstuff but he was surprised to see that most of them were about to expire. Coffee that was to expire within a week was offered, he said.

He felt such products should be displayed separately from other products to avoid misleading consumers.

Ahmed Hicham, another consumer, said shops should display notices indicating that such good are about to expire, to prevent consumers from buying them for storage.

Mai Ahmed, another consumer, felt that such good sometimes include food products for children which may harm their health if consumed after their expiry dates.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hachim Al Nuaimi, director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, said it is important that consumers check expiry dates before buying food products.

Dr Nuaimi said the ministry does not recommend that consumers buy goods that are about to expire particularly those they intend to store.

The law allows seller to display goods so long as they are within their expiry dates, he clarified.