Consumers with unclear food commodity data at outlets

Consumers said that food commodity data, foremost of which are the prices and ingredients of bread recorded on bags, are sometimes written in an inconspicuous and small print, difficult for many consumers to read, which prompted a shopper to use a magnifying lens to read them.

They explained to «Emirates Today» that they were surprised several times at the payment boxes that the prices of some of these commodities are high, because they are unable to read the price indicated on them, and some of them bought goods that they did not use after that for components or near expiration reasons, demanding respect for the consumer’s right to Knowing the full information of the commodity that he is buying.

At a time when two officials in the two outlets attributed the writing of the commodity data in an unclear way and in a small font, to the size of the commodity, and the need to write a large amount of data on the packaging, the Emirates Consumer Protection Association stressed that writing all the data related to the goods is a basic right for the consumer It should be met.

Data clarity

In detail, the consumer, Sheikha Al Shamsi, said: “She suffers from the lack of clarity of the data on the bags of some fresh and frozen food commodities, foremost of which is bread.” Noting that the data is written in an unclear way and in a small, unobtrusive font, which makes it difficult for consumers to read.

She explained that «this information is important and mainly affects the decision to purchase or not, such as data on price, production dates, expiry, weight, food ingredients, and the producing company».

She asserted that she was forced several times to purchase goods without reading the data attached to them, due to their lack of clarity, but she was not able to use them later after she discovered that the expiration date was close, or reasons related to the ingredients.

Transparent bags

In turn, the consumer, Mohamed Alaa, said: “He noticed that the data of the commodity was often written in an inconspicuous manner, and that some transparent bags in which some food commodities were placed,

Especially the bread, it helps in the blurring of the line, in addition to the fact that the line is sometimes very small ».

He explained that he “bought food commodities without reading their data, and was surprised at the payment fund that the prices of some of them are high, but he had to buy them in the end, because there were long lines, and there was no time to return to the store to choose an alternative for the commodity.” He demanded respect for the consumer’s right to know the data The whole good he buys while on the shelves.

Commodity components

The consumer, Youssef Al-Hammadi, agreed on the necessity of writing the data clearly, in big and in a prominent font, in a way that is appropriate for different ages and levels of view, and stressed the importance of writing it in a specific place on the package.

He stressed that he, like other consumers, suffers from the lack of clarity of the data of some commodities, pointing out that the consumer discovers in the bills the presence of high-priced commodities, which he was unable to read their data in advance, as well as food commodities he cannot eat, given the sensitivity of some of its components, stressing that Read data on some items later with a magnifying glass.

Small sizes

Idris Ibrahim said, “The data for the commodity is sometimes written in an unclear way and in a small font, because the volume of the commodity is small, and therefore its envelope is small, with the need to write a large amount of data on him".

He stressed that some consumers ask about some of the components that go into producing the commodity, as well as the price or expiration date, because it is difficult to read from them.

In turn, the sales official at another port, Ahmed Siddiqui, attributed the difficulty in identifying the commodity data sometimes, to the quality and colors of some of the envelopes and bags used, and their small sizes, indicating that in cases of aesthetic element prevail in choosing colors, or certain types of bags, In the framework of competition to attract consumers.

Basic right

In the same vein, the Chairman of the Emirates Consumer Protection Association, Mohamed Khalifa bin Uzair Al-Muhairi, said that “obligating the sales outlets and companies producing food commodities, especially bread, to write all the data for these commodities, from price, weight, and dates of production and expiration, and components And nutritional facts, as well as the company producing and the place of production, in a clear manner and in a clear, readable and large line, is a basic right of the consumer that must be met.

He continued: «It is noted in some markets and some sales outlets that this data is recorded in an illegible line or in a very small line that is not clear and difficult to read, which leads to buying these goods at a price or components that may not be suitable for the consumer, or taken up after the expiration, This may represent a real risk to public health. ”

Al-Muhairi stressed the importance of paying attention to the data recorded on food, which is one of the main factors that must be taken care of when shopping, pointing to the risks that may arise from eating goods after the expiration of the specified expiry, which is often determined as a result of extensive scientific research.

Al-Muhairi stressed the society’s interest in these demands by consumers, especially the senior citizens, who have contacted the association repeatedly, stressing the importance of clearly highlighting dates, which requires instructing the competent authorities to compel companies to clearly and clearly display the data and read it easily.

He said, "The lack of clarification of the data would hinder the sales operations and have negative effects on the general health of society."

He explained that «the sale process is not only a matter of making profits, but rather a process that must be characterized by humanitarian and legal standards, otherwise it will represent harm to society.

Update the specifications of food commodities

The director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, Dr. Hashem Al-Nuaimi, said, “The Ministry will discuss, during the coming period, with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (Specifications), updating the standard for food commodities, especially bread, so that the data is more clear, and is written in a prominent and easier font. Reading to different consumers. ”

Al-Nuaimi pointed out that it is difficult for all companies to place data on the commodity in a specific place for all commodities, given that its status varies according to the type of commodity, its size and the shape of the envelope.

He emphasized that the UAE has the lead in determining the specifications for many foodstuffs, especially bread in particular, as it approved the first specifications related to bread at the level of the entire Gulf region.