WINNIPEG – A Manitoba politician is pushing for more measures to protect consumers after another Winnipeg store recently sold expired baby food.
NDP’s Judy Wasylycia-Leis, MP for Winnipeg North, says “the expiry date has to mean something.” Heather Benci said her family unknowingly bought baby formula that was more than six months past its expiry date at a Superstore.
Last November, Jose Edmond’s son, Jacob, became ill after consuming expired baby formula bought from a Winnipeg drug store.
That story prompted Benci to shop elsewhere but her family’s purchase of expired baby food has made her concerned.
Superstore’s head office said in a statement that there are procedures that check for products near expiration and to discard them once the date has passed.
“Independent auditors also conduct regular spot checks throughout the year. A rigorous reinforcement of this process is underway with the staff at this store,” the store said in its statement.
Wasylycia-Leis says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada should do more to protect Canadians by designating an absolute safe period for expiry dates and ensuring inspectors are checking that expired food is taken off shelves.
“We need to do something and I will look at a private member’s bill or motion to get the government to say what is that safe period of time and let retailers know that,” says Wasylycia-Leis.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigates complaints of expired baby formula on store shelves but says its inspectors need to confirm and find the expired product in a store to take action against a retailer.
Wasylycia-Leis says that passes the burden of food safety onto the consumer and that needs to change.
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