Genuine Dairy Cheese Customer’s and Consumers are being totally
“RIPPED OFF” financially and health wise once again. Likewise should best be
extremely concerned and wary as to what they have been or are consuming.
A few tips to take into consideration when purchasing or
consuming genuine dairy cheese products.
There is also NO LAW or legislation requiring manufacturers
to have accurate traceability and or dates on individual cheese product labels
by retailers and other outlets etc in
South Africa. This according to the Department
of Agriculture Director APIS division and apparently agreed to by the States
Attorney’s Office recently. Whether it be for Local or imported products. This
Legislation / ruling is currently being appealed.
As much as some Manufacturers do advertise these dates and
traceability. Many retailers and outlets are obliterating this information with
their own stickers to horrendously deceive and mislead customers and consumers
as to” truth” regarding the products longevity.
Cheese sections or wedges cut from large rounds or blocks by
Retailers and other outlet/s in store.
Do not have to contain any accurate traceability or any other criteria on these
individual smaller blocks or wedges, according to Department of Health
Legislation. Whether local or imported product. This DOH Legislation is also
being appealed. DAFF have stated they do
not legislate on products cut and wrapped in store by the various stores or
outlets etc.
This opens the door to extreme abuse of customers and
consumers financially and health wise, by all whom supply them. As the products
can be /are left on shelves, for as long as the seller desires. Re dated and re
priced as and when they desire. With scant and utter disregard for the FSQA of
the products or the customer’s /consumer’s health or finances.
Therefore, the next time you consume a genuine dairy cheese
product that looks strange, tastes strange etc. Be very wary and or concerned
as to what you may actually be consuming or intend to consume.
Do Not merely return suspect products for refunds and “hand
outs” from the supplier. This negates your claim against the supplier. It does NOT stop the abuse. Seal and
refrigerate the product and report the matter to your nearest DAFF or DOH or
NCC/CPA office immediately.
Note: Cheese does have a best before date and expiry date.
It is a fallacy to believe that cheese matures with age. Yes it does mature,
but under strict conditions and packaging criteria for a certain period.
DAFF – APIS division and the DAFF FSQA division have
admitted they conduct minimal testing of products to ascertain if the product
is Compliant with their Legislation. They have indicated they do not to full
and comprehensive testing and analysis of products. DAFF have also stated they do not concern
themselves with sell by dates, best before dates or consume by dates. That is
and or indicated on products packaging.
The Department of Health (DOH) have also stated they do Not do comprehensive testing and analysis of products. They do also not concern
themselves with sell by dates, best before dates and use by dates. That is and
or indicated on products packaging.
The additional information you see on packaging and wrappers is
voluntary.
Note: Cheese products like most dairy products are extremely
susceptible to contamination. Such as E-Coli, etc. Which are extremely dangerous to one’s health
to say the least. Should they not produced or handled in extremely hygienic
mannerism/conditions at all times. The
following links will prove this.
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/chain-stores-cheap-cheese-returned-1.1174540
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/8879416/22-tons-of-Irish-cheddar-to-be-destroyed-because-of-E.coli.html
The problem is as much as this consignment was intercepted/
impounded. How many other consignments have slipped through?
As the DAFF and DOH have stated they DO NOT have the
resources, Human or otherwise to combat this horrendous and dire situation.
That is NOT limited to cheese products. In fact they have indicated they are
“fighting a losing battle”.
FINAL TIP: There is
also a major influx of ANALOGUE cheese aka as IMITATION cheese. That contains
NO Dairy, or miniscule traces if it does. Flooding onto the South African
Market, which are being labelled , marketed and sold as Genuine Dairy Cheese
product/s by unscrupulous retailers and others. Be very alert to this
occurrence. As the imitation ingredients are known to MIMIC genuine dairy very
closely and deviously.
Again the DAFF and DOH have indicated they are “fighting and
losing battle” to stop this. As per that criteria mentioned above. They do NOT
have resources whether human or otherwise.
YET THE COUNTRY IS SCREAMING OUT FOR JOB CREATION!!
Who suffers the ultimate sacrifice because of these
inexcusable reasons once again. Whether
financially or health wise.
THE UNSUSPECTING
CUSTOMER AND CONSUMER LIKE YOU AND I. UNABATED.
If people
let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their
bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live
under tyranny.
~Thomas
Jefferson
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