Few dates on food

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33541, 23 May 1974, Page 14

Few dates on food

Although regulations requiring manufacturers to show the date of packing of many perishable foods have been in force for several months, such items in Christchurch stores are not dated.

Manufacturers claim they have done their best to comply with the Food and Drugs Regulations, 1973, but they have several difficulties. These include finding a printing material that would stay on containers and packages,

and coping with the many changes in regulations. Many perishable items in stores carry a space for the date, but this is being used to show the price. The reason for the legulations was the short life of some perishable foods. The Consumer Institute said that sausages kept fresh for about five days when held at 2 to 4 deg. the usual temperature range on the top shelf of a domestic refrigerator. Othei sources said that yoghurt could be kept for up to a month. A Health Department spokesman said yesterday, that it was illegal to sell undated items specified in the regulations, but dispensation was being given to some manuacturers because of labelling problems. “The department is giving a little time, but it is not a satisfactory situation,” he said. He could not say how longj the department was going to give manufacturers, but he] said they were watching very! carefully. The regulations state that! milk products, such as . yog-[ hurt, cottage cheese, and i sour cream should have oeenl

date-stamped from June 1, 1973, and shell-fish from September 1, 1973. Manufactured meat, corned, cured, pickled, or salted meat including ham and bacon, and jellied meat should have been stamped from January 1, 1974. The requirement does not apply to these foods when canned or when sold on the premises where they are packed. The prescribed marking is. “Packed on (date).” Mr T. W. Dawson, the complaints advisory officer at the Consumer Institute, said that they were hoping to extend date stamping to, canned baby food. ■ Two reporters who visited various stores in the city yesterday found only one brand of yoghurt carrying the date stamp.