The Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department is advising all consumers against the purchase of Powdered Milk in unlabeled, transparent plastic bags.
And the body is also advising retailers to discontinue the practice of repackaging milk without being in possession of a Permit to Repackage.
According to the food and drug department, The sale of milk powder in this manner is in breach of the Food and Drug Act 1971 and the Food and Drug Regulation 1977 and any person who sells powdered Milk in unlabelled, transparent plastic bags would be Guilty of an Offence.
The law says milk must be properly labelled and when permitted be repackaged with supervision and under sanitary conditions.
According to the government agency, unlabeled bags cannot represent the true identity of the re-packager or that of the milk brand.
It is unclear what may have triggered this warning now by the Government Analyst Food and Drug department, especially since powdered milk has been sold in its retail form for decades in clear bags. The major concern appears to be the sanitary conditions under which the milk is repackaged.
According to Part II Section seven (7) and eight (8) of the Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03 and Part II Regulation 18 (1) of the Food and Drug Regulation: Milk must be properly labelled and when permitted be repackaged with supervision and under sanitary conditions.
Consumers are advised against the purchase of powdered milk in plain unlabeled plastic bags for the following reasons:
- Unlabeled bags cannot represent the true identity of the re-packager or that of the milk (brand)
- Milk placed in clear transparent bags results in a loss of nutritional value of the Milk
- The milk is oftentimes repackaged under insanitary conditions by unlicensed re-packagers
- Milk sold in this manner may be subjected to adulteration (mixing)
- The true weight of the milk cannot be determined or reflected on a clear transparent bag
Consumers are also reminded that the standard for various types of Milk as found in Part IV Division 5 Regulation 3, 12, 13, 14 and 16 (Dairy Products) of the Food and Drug Regulation are as follows:
- Milk or Whole Milk shall contain no less than 3.0 per cent of milk fat , 8.5 percent of milk solids
- Flavoured Milk shall contain no less than 2.5 per cent of milk fat, 8.5 percent of milk solids
- Condensed or Sweetened Condensed Milk shall contain no less than 8.0 per cent milk fat , 28.0 per cent of milk solid
- Evaporated Milk shall contain no less than 7.5 per cent of milk fat , 25.0 per cent of milk solids
- Milk Powder shall contain no less than 26.0 per cent of milk fat and 95.0 per cent of milk solid.
Any milk being traded and / or sold on our local market in any of the above stated categories and the label does not reflect the prescribed standard as indicative of the name, will be seized and confiscated. Consumers are asked to report this practice to the Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department (Telephone # 222-8859) or any Environmental or Municipal Health Officer in the respective Regions or Towns for their own interest and safety.
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