• Nearly seven hours of power outages affects the quality of food stored in refrigerators, and deep freezers 
• 387 vendors have been prosecuted for selling frozen food, including meat and dairy products, that were found unfit for human consumption

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama

Due to the prevalent power outages, many varieties of frozen food which are unfit for consumption are being sold in the market, the Public Health Inspectors Union (PHIU) of Sri Lanka said. 

PHIU Chairman Upul Rohana said many areas of the country experience nearly seven hours of power outages and this affects the quality of food items that are stored in refrigerators, deep freezers and chest freezers.
As such, in the past two weeks, 387 vendors have been prosecuted for selling frozen food, including meat and dairy products, that were found unfit for human consumption, Rohana said.

He asked vendors not to sell frozen foods if they are not able to maintain the accurate temperature in their refrigerators, deep freezers and chest freezers.

If the colour, odour and quality of the food change, they are not suitable for human consumption, Rohana said.
He also advised consumers to pay close attention to the quality and appearance of  foodstuff before buying them.

• Vendors requested not to sell frozen foods if they are unable to maintain the accurate temperature in their refrigerators