If it was not for the Consumer protection watchdog’s routine inspections, hundreds of expired products could still be sitting on shop shelves across Malawi, exposing families to serious health risks without their knowledge.
But that reality was exposed this week when the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) launched surprise market inspections across Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mulanje, Salima, Nkhotakota and Chikwawa, uncovering a worrying 891 expired products in circulation.
The findings reveal a disturbing pattern of negligence by some traders, with expired goods spread across almost every consumer category, from food to personal care items.
According to CFTC spokesperson Innocent Helema, dairy products alone accounted for 101 items, followed by biscuits at 112, noodles and cereals at 83, chewing gum and mints at 178, chocolates and sweets at 172, and snacks at 59, while drinks, sauces, spices and household items also made the list.
In total, recent inspections have now uncovered 1,540 expired and uncertified products across multiple districts, including earlier operations in Mangochi, Machinga, Zomba, Mzimba, Mzuzu and Kasungu.
Helema says the situation points to serious violations of Malawi’s consumer safety standards, warning that offenders risk heavy penalties, including fines of up to 10 percent of turnover.
CFTC has since urged consumers to take a more active role in protecting themselves by carefully checking expiry dates and certification marks before buying goods.
“The CFTC continues to urge consumers to remain highly vigilant, inspect expiry dates and product certification, and hence immediately report any traders found violating consumer protection laws,” said Helema.
The Commission has committed to continue nationwide inspections to flush out unsafe products from the market.
