Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
07/14/2015
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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Supermarkets expose expired products and give a good, free, customer
On World Riachuelo Street, promotion gave milk carton to R$ 0.01 when buying two loaves of bread. But it failed to inform the latter win in four days
Consumers who do not have the habit of checking the expiration date printed on the packaging of food risk to take home due and products unfit for consumption because it can bring health risks. Sale Items also call for greater care because often the price is reduced because the expiration date is near. Research by GLOBE on the last day 30 in eight supermarkets of different networks in Rio, identified yogurt, grapes and tomatoes out of the expiration date displayed for sale on the shelves of a store of Sugar Loaf and other South Zone, both in Copacabana. Informed about expired products, the two supermarkets for free provided the same items with correct term for consumption.
Do not charge the customer finding expired products is a rule laid down in the agreement signed in 2012 between the supermarkets of Rio, Public Defender and Procon. A year earlier, similar measure had entered into force in the state capital. But the rule does not apply to all networks, as for membership is voluntary. The Supermarkets Association of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Asserj) reported that nine networks have joined the campaign, called "Eye on validity." Participants must show poster, visible from the local store, informing the membership and rules for accessing the gratuity. The law guarantees a free unit each won product found by the customer.
Although the agreement worth only for those who identify won product in the store before making the payment, the consumer who only check the problem when you are at home should contact the supermarket and require replacement by another own food for consumption or money back. This rule applies to consumer anywhere in the country, because it is guaranteed in Article 18 of the Consumer Protection Code (CDC), which is a federal law. The CDC believes that the poisoning is overcome food consumption accident and therefore consumers should be repaired by the merchant for damages. In addition, the Law 8,137 / 90 says that sale or storage of expired products or unsuitable conditions for consumption is a crime, punishable by a fine and imprisonment.
- In case of expired food, consumers should immediately call the store manager, to collect the product. Moreover, you must not fail to register with Procon - advises Fabio Domingos, Supervisory director of Procon-RJ.
DISCOUNTS IN NEARLY GOODS TO WIN
Since early this year, Procon-RJ inspectors found 1.6 tons of food in supermarkets losers of 14 networks in the municipalities of Rio, Duque de Caxias, São Gonçalo, Niterói, Marica, Petrópolis, Araruama, Paraty and Angra dos Reis. Most were meat, sausages and cold, but there was also fruit and dairy unable to be consumed. The products were collected and properly disposed of, and the shops, reported.
The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) asks also that consumers find products that out-dated look for the Health Surveillance of the municipality, so that if necessary, the establishment is inspected.
A store of Copacabana and Sugar Loaf in Largo do Machado Extra Supermarket, the GLOBE found dairy and other foods that require refrigeration close to expire, sold with discounts of almost 50% in the price. They were gathered in a specific shelf and notifying the consumer, made by label:. "Product close to maturity", as determined by the CDC already in the World Centre, a promotion offering milk carton to R$ 0.01 to who bought two packets of sliced bread. But lacked inform that the expiry date of the loaves would end in four days.
The GPA explained that this type of promotion is done to reduce waste, and that foods are grouped in a special gondola, with appropriate signage. He also stated follow the guidance of regulatory agencies and have strict procedure to ensure product quality. About yogurt out-dated found in Copacabana store, the company said it was an isolated case and conducted an internal audit to determine the failure.
The World argued that the period remaining to the end of the validity of the loaves on sale - four days - is appropriate, since the products of this line have between eight and 12 days of total validity. The company also said it is transparent in communicating the promotion, so the client decide if the opportunity is right. According to the network, all products are removed and replaced in sales two days before maturity.
The South Zone said in a statement to have a Food Security Department to guide, audit and correct "possible failures, and that his manual of good manufacturing practices and operational procedures include the requirements of regulatory agencies and legislation."
The president of Asserj, Aylton Fornari, failures validity control happen because the work is manual - depends on the designated employee check carefully the products that need to be collected. To improve control, supermarkets are discussing with manufacturers the possibility of the barcode report, in addition to price, the validity of the product. Fornari explained that expired products should be stored in a specific location for disposal, out of stock.
- We do not have any loss on expired products, because all are collected and replaced by the manufacturer free of charge to the retailer - said the president of Asserj.
Ideally, says Claudia Almeida, lawyer of the Brazilian Institute of Consumer Defense (Idec), is the consumer to identify the problem before purchase:
- While we realize the attention of suppliers and merchants to prevent this from occurring, and the sale of expired products be a crime, the consumer has the obligation and the responsibility to check the date, because a damaged product may cause serious health damage.
Source: Reuters
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.