Some FCT residents voice opinions on expiry date, BB
A cross-section of Abuja residents have expressed different views over expiry date, date of manufacture and Best Before (BB) inscribed on packaged food products, drugs, cosmetics, among others.
While some say they check such information before they buy, some say they dont, as they just go ahead and buy what they want and move on.
A check by a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent in Abuja found that many people are not even aware of such dates, some do not bother to check, while others do not even know how to check and do not know its significance.
Some others also blame food dealers for not duly passing useful information about their products.
Expiration date or expiry date is a previously determined date after which something should no longer be used, either by operation of law or by exceeding the anticipated shelf life for perishable goods.
Expiration dates tell consumers the last day a product is safe to consume, while Best Before date tells if food is no longer in its perfect shape from that date as it may lose freshness, taste, aroma or nutrients.
Mr James Abah, a civil servant in Abuja, said he seldom check for information of a product, as most times, he just buys and goes.
He added that “if I buy things like butter, tea or beverage, I don’t check for expiry date because I can always return it to the shop, and if the product is not expensive, I just forgo.
“There are instances where the seller will also not collect the item sold, and one just have to bear it.”
Mr Emmanuel Eddah, a businessman also in Abuja, said that when buying a product from the supermarket, he normally wouldn’t bother to check for such information.
According to him, such thinking doesn’t really come to his head, and that he just buys and move on.
Eddah added that most of the sellers themselves do not know and do not check such information and they end up selling expired products.
Another Abuja resident, John Emmanuel, a broadcaster, also said “once I walk into a shop and I see the product I want, I just get hold of it, pay and go.
“Sometimes I check the pack of a product when I get home and if I notice anything wrong, I just throw it away.
“Last year, I bought wheat flour from a shop and I found weevils inside it, and this product has not expired, according to the expiry date on the pack; one day, I found myself in that same shop again and I just told the seller verbally about the product and it ended there.”
However, Enemaku Ojotegbe, a consumer residing in Abuja, said he had made it a duty to always check expiry date, date of manufacture, Best Before and physically examine packaged products before purchase.
Ojotegbe, who called for awareness creation from relevant authorities, also urged sellers of packaged products to always check such information and remove expired items from the shelves.
Supreme recalls that NAFDAC had on Jan. 23, during a news conference, urged Nigerians to always check products and be vigilant before buying.
Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food in the U.S., many dates listed on foods actually refer to quality, not safety, meaning certain items won’t hurt you if you eat them, they may just taste stale or lose flavor as time goes on.
