Summary
Counterfeit Foods can still be a deadly threat
Be aware of different labels and packaging from the originals
Bolt Food to withdraw Delivery Services from the Country in December
Counterfeit foods are still at large on the local South African Market.1 Social media has been flooded with videos of spaza shops selling fake food to the public.2 As previously in The South African some of these “fake foods” may be hazardous to our health as they bypass food quality control and health standards.3 While there have been reports of “fake foods” from across the country, it is easy to spot the counterfeit products.4 Here are some tips to help you avoid the fakes this December.5 Its important to remember to report any store that sells fake foods to the police.6 You can also contact the original manufacturer of the products and also report the shop or shops to the National Department of Health.7
According to the Health Department the one way to spot fake foods is to look at the product’s color.8 as reported by Sowetan Live, the department stated that the colour of the counterfeit product won’t resemble the original product as fake manufacturers will use incorrect additives.9 If the colour is lighter or darker than the original product, it’s likely illicit goods.10 Inspect the packaging of the product before buying it.11 A reputable brand will ensure its packaging has no spelling and grammar errors.12 The font of the product and the size of the lettering also needs to be paid attention too.13 It is important to remember that fake packaging is not completely identical to the one designed by the original manufacturer.14 It’s best to avoid the product if something on the packaging appears suspicious.15
Rasulullah ﷺ said, ” Whoever relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter.”
The list goes on. These types of fake food can prove to be harmful and even poisonous to your health. They carry a risk of food poisoning and can be deadly to the very young. The threat of consuming counterfeit goods could jeopardize your wellbeing, given the loose restrictions on them. That is why it is important to consult your personal or family doctor if you had been consuming such goods. Counterfeit goods will never be exact copies of the good they are based on. This is why you should check the packaging and labelling, there is no limit to the harm they can do to you or your loved ones. The reason why there has been a rise in the selling and purchasing of counterfeit products is because they are cheaper for shop owners to buy than the originals. That is there needs to be a watchdog organization or organizations to keep checks on these goods.
Meanwhile in terms of food delivery, Bolt Food will stop operating in South Africa and Nigeria in December.16 The e-hailing giant said it was a business decision to discontinue food operations.17 There is a lot of competition in the food delivery sector in South Africa.18 However the main goal is to “streamline” their resources and maximise overall efficiency.19 “At this time, we have all made the difficult decision to continue our food delivery operations in South Africa due to business reasons,” said Bolt in a statement.20 The option to deliver food through Bolt in South Africa will no longer be available from 8 December, and from 7 December in Nigeria.21 According to News 24 if you check a Bolt availability map on the company’s website and found that the Ghanaian capital city of Accra is the only city on the continent that offers Bolt food outside Nigeria and South Africa.22
Things are changing, the world is changing. If an international food company can’t compete with local businesses, then they have to look elsewhere. Another reason for this could be cheaper delivery and marketing in other countries. Inflation could be a significant reason for wanting to pull out of South Africa and Nigeria. The rise in food prices would have hit the delivery giant somewhat. This in turn would have impacted its exports. Maintaining food delivery networks in Africa would not be easy for an international food company. The decision would have been impacted by costs and expenses piling up. So, withdrawing their business from Nigeria and South Africa would be the only option. Both South Africa and Nigeria are the African continent’s largest economies. South Africa is more diverse and open to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Nigeria is not. Bolt may return to Africa once the situation has become more stable.
The counterfeit goods is a more serious concern and needs to be rectified by both the Health Department and the private sector as well as civil society.
Sources
richest6h
Fake food warning: How to spot counterfeit products
Spaza shops have made headlines for selling fake food but here’s how to spot and avoid consuming counterfeit products. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
News246h
Bolt Food to be canned in South Africa and Nigeria in December
E-hailing operator Bolt is set to cease its food delivery services in South Africa and Nigeria in December in a bid to … 16 17 18 19 20 21 22