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One pupil recently died, while scores of others were seriously affected in South Africa after eating contaminated food from canned pilchards. It is time that Swaziland consumers check the food that they are eating before disaster strikes. " I do not usually look for the expiry dates before buying," says Thuli Mavuso, during a snap survey around Mbabane Supermarkets. "What is the difference?" she asked. When you eat expired foods you are likely to expose yourself to diseases such as botulism. According to the Merch Manual of Medical Information 7th edition, botulism is neuromuscular poisoning from clostridium botulinum toxin. After ingestion of the toxin, one is likely to suffer from nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. If the symptoms are not treated, dehydration and death is likely to occur. 

Thembi Masilela, a Science Teacher said that she always checks for expiry dates of perishables such as dairy products. She said that consumers especially those from rural areas are not conscious of the importance of checking for expiry dates of products before buying them.

Although, rural folks are marginalised in terms of information,  you still find that a big percentage of the urban folk are not aware of the need to be strict by checking food products they buy, she added. Another consumer who works for a local cellular company said that she buys canned foods on trust. However, she is stricter with dairy products because they are perishable. 

It was surprising to note that some elite supermarkets had some products without expiry date labels. Some of the products that did not have labels include canned mixed vegetables, canned hot vegetable curry, lucky star chakalaka pilchards, lucky star hot chili sardines, and prima canned meat. In addition, some of the canned food products did not have registered trademarks, while some had rusted tins. A manager at one of the local supermarkets said that food products without expiry labels are usually impounded at the borders and sent back where they came from. However, customs officials sometimes fail to detect these products and they find themselves on the shelves in some supermarkets, he added. 

A Pharmacist at one of the leading pharmacies blamed consumers for buying products without checking for expiry dates. He said that consumers are mostly concerned about checking expiry dates on medicines than on food products. He also said that people are not careful when discarding used goods and expired food products. These products end at dump sites where scavengers pick them, use or eat thereby exposing them to danger, he added. Further, he said that people have been seeking treatment for various problems.  However, it is difficult to say whether these are linked to tinned food, he said.

"Expiration" or "Exp" is the last date on which a product should be used. If the date has passed, throw it away. "Sell by, indicates the last day on which the product should be sold. You can keep the food two to three days longer than that if it is well refrigerated. "Best if used by" is the date by which the manufacturer guarantees the freshness and quality of the food. It is not dangerous to use the food after that date, but the food may not have top quality or top nutritional value after that date. "Packed on" dates are sometimes found on canned and frozen food. This is not useful information unless you know when the food was picked and processed before the freezing or canning. As a rule of thumb, frozen foods can be kept for three to four months after that date. Canned goods can be stored for up to a year beyond that date.

Swaziland is not a signatory to the Biosafety Protocol, which to seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. Countries in the Southern

African region that have signed the Biosafety Protocol include Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia whilst Lesotho is in accession. In this regard, Swaziland is putting herself in a vulnerable position as she can find herself as a dumping ground of genetically modified food (GMOs) products. "There are no enforceable regulations in the food industry," said the manager from of an elite supermarket. The Biosafety Protocol contains procedures for ensuring that countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such genetically modified organisms into their territory. 

If you wish to know more about food labeling and consumer rights contact Yonge Nawe.