CFTC warns against consumption of recalled products

The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has warned the public against consumption of KOO and Hugos canned vegetables produced from May 2019 to May 2021.

The caution follows a recall of the product by manufacturer, Tiger Brands, due to defective cans.

In a statement, CFTC acting executive director Apoche Itimu said the cans may have a defective side seam weld that could cause them to leak.

She said the defective products may be contaminated and are harmful to consumers.

Said Itimu: “Bearing in mind that some of the products are imported into Malawi, on July 29 2021, CFTC carried out shop inspections in Lilongwe to assess the availability of the recalled product on the market.

“The inspectors found that the recalled products are available in some of the shops and supermarkets.”

CFTC has since advised consumers who may already have purchased the recalled products to return the same to the suppliers for proper disposition.

Consumer rights activist John Kapito, who is also executive director of Consumers Association of Malawi, has applauded CFTC for the move to investigate the matter and warn consumers on the product.

He called on the manufacturer to extend its warnings of the recall further to ensure that the product is removed from the market through physical collections.

“It is pleasing that the local fair trading commission has swiftly moved in,” said Kapito.