With the growing reports of health hazards from consumption of food, which are contaminated, experts are now insisting that checking of expiry date should be a must exercise for every consumer.
This is just as findings have shown that most consumers do not check the manufacturing and expiry dates on the product they want to purchase. This is probably because they are either in a hurry or do not care about doing that.
The date of expiration is the time up to which the food retains its microbiological and physical strength, and the nutrient substance stated on the label. That means it’s essential to use that food before the expiry date to get the most nutritional value from it and avoid poisoning.
According to health experts, consuming expired products which include foods and drugs could cause food poisoning which if not well taken care of immediately could lead to death or serious illness.
They also observed that expired foods might develop mold, become rancid, or spoil in other ways which when eaten causes diarrhea; vomiting, bloating, and other nasty flulike symptoms.
The question is how many Nigerian consumers check expiry date on products before purchase.
For Mr. Gilbert Moneke, checking expiry date on products whether foods or drugs does not mean anything to him.
Mr. Moneke went further to explain that once the packaging of the product is neat and appealing to the eyes, he does not care about the date such product will expire.
“I do not check the expiry date on product which I want to buy and I consider it as a waste of time and energy. The moment the packaging is neat, the idea of checking the date it will expire does not come to my mind; l have never been ill as a result of consuming expired food or drug.”
READ ALSO: Why more women adopt single motherhood –Expert
Maintaining that he does not believe in the expiry dates on products, he described it as a ploy of the manufacturers to force consumers to buy more of their products.
Contrary to Mr. Moneke’s response, a public servant, Ms. Tina Duru , said she has never bought any drug or food product without looking out for the date when such product will expire.
According to her, buying expired products particularly drugs could endanger one’s life and that of the entire family.
“I cannot imagine using my money to buy what will kill me and my children. I will not buy any product that the expiry date is not readable. I will either go to another seller or buy a similar product that the date of expiration is clear and eligible.”
Speaking also, a consultant and an independent artist, Mr. George Anyanwu, described himself as a very careful and meticulous person and added that he cannot buy any product without having a critical look at the date of expiration of such product.
“We live in dangerous times that people are desperate to make money at other people’s expense, it is important that I check what I am buying so as to know whether the product has expired or not. “I check the date because if l get home and discover that the product has expired my money will not be refunded if I return it where l bought it. Also, l check the expiry date in other to avoid health hazards associated with some products, especially pharmaceutical products; and to avoid food poisoning if it is food products,” he told The Next Edition.
On her part, an educationist, Mrs. Chinwe Uzoma, recalled how she was rushed to the clinic for eating expired green pea that was used in preparing salad.
Since after the incident, she said, “It is not possible for me to buy any canned food or drug without checking the manufacturing and expiry date. It was a lesson indeed, because after being rushed to the hospital, l vomited everything that I ate. l was admitted in the hospital for some days where I spent a lot of money before being discharged. I could not go to the office within that period.”
Mrs. Uzoma therefore, stressed the need for consumers to ensure they consume products that have not become contaminated, adding that the consequence of eating such product is better imagined than experienced.
Mrs. Lara Akintoye said she does not want herself or any member of the family to fall victim of food poisoning or any other illness associated with the consumption of contaminated products.
She claimed to pay particular attention on manufacturing and expiry dates on foods and drugs to ensure only safe product is consumed in her home.
“Checking expiry dates on product is something which l do not play with because l know the health implications of buying and consuming product that has passed its expiry date”, she added.
Mrs. Chinyere Onyebukwa said it does not occur to her to check the date of expiration on product anytime she wants to purchase anything either from the shop or market.
To her, it is ideal to give proper attention to the information on the label of any product before purchase so that the buyer will protect herself from the product that is not safe for consumption.
“I do not always remember, that is my problem , but is essential that consumers check the expiry date on food products before buying or consuming them so as to protect their health from products which have gone bad,’’ she advised.
In all experts , said it is necessary for consumers to avoid foods that have passed its expiry date and added that such food has no nutritional value.
They advised those who cannot read the information on the label of the product they want to purchase to always go with a literate person who can read and explain to them the contents of the product, including the date of expiration.
