Finger millet, baby shrimp with fake labels seized in Kotahena

Colombo, November 27 (Daily Mirror) - A large stock of Finger Millet (Kurakkan) and Baby Shrimp was seized by officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) from a warehouse in Kotahena. The stock was being prepared for release to the market with altered labels indicating false manufacturing and expiry dates.

The raid uncovered 22 tons of finger millet and 975 kilograms of baby shrimp yesterday. According to officials, the Indian manufacturer had originally printed the manufacturing year of 740 packets, each weighing 30 kgs, as 2024, with a recommended consumption period of 12 months. 

However, the Sri Lankan importer had altered the manufacturing year to 2026 and forwarded the expiry month to 2024, attempting to release the stock to the market.

Similarly, 195 packets of baby shrimp, each weighing 5 kgs, were also found with tampered labels. The original manufacturing date July-2024 had been changed to September-2025.

These violations have been reported to the court, and legal action has been initiated against the businessman involved. The CAA has instructed its officers to conduct island-wide investigations and raids to prevent the distribution of such products during the upcoming festive season.

Special operations are being carried out with a focus on warehouses to ensure that food and other products with falsified information do not reach the market during this time.