The Competition and Fair Trading Commission of Malawi (CFTC) has joined other southern African countries, including South Africa and Bostwana, is recalling tinned fish products from the market
The decision follows a canning deficiency which has maade the product with the code ZST-29 and ZSC-29 unfit for human consumption.
Responding to a questionnaire on Thursday, CFTC executive director James Kaphale appealed to all local retail outlets to immediately recall the product and provide a full refund to consumers who bought the canned pilchards.
“Any supermarket which does not recall the defective product risks facing appropriate sanctions under the Competition and Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Protection Act,” he said.
The mass recall has affected other brands, including Cape Point, Saldanha, Shoprite’s Rite Brand, Checkers House Brand, U-Brand and OK House, Spar, Sunny, Mammas, Deep Catch and West Point brands.
The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) in South Africa ordered for a national recall of 400 grammes pilchards tinned fish in tomato sauce and chilli sauce with immediate effect.
This means that all traders, including wholesalers, retailers and informal traders should take off their shelves the recalled product.
Meanwhile, the Comesa Competition Commission (CCC) has warned consumers to exercise caution and avoid consuming the product.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its director George Lipimile, CCC said the recall follows the outcome of an investigation by NRCS which revealed a deficiency in the canning process.
It reads: “It was found that some of the cans were compromised during the sauce filling step on the production line and, therefore, could affect the safety of consumers.” According to the statement, the recalled products were manufactured in 2019 by West Point Processors based in Cape Town.
