It was an ordinary shopping trip for Mere, a Suva resident, until she reached into a neatly stacked pile of potatoes at a prominent supermarket and felt her fingers sink into soft, foul-smelling rot.
The potato, deceptively vibrant on the outside, was spoiled beneath the surface. Mere’s experience isn’t an isolated incident – it reflects a troubling trend across Fiji where consumers are increasingly confronted with substandard, sometimes hazardous, fresh produce lining supermarket shelves.
From bruised fruits to mouldy vegetables, the issue of rotten produce is not just an inconvenience, it’s a public health concern that undermines consumer confidence and highlights gaps in food quality management.
While Fiji’s retailers boast modern facilities and supply chains, the presence of spoiled produce reveals systemic issues that stretch beyond the aisles.
It is a problem that affects both large retail chains and small-time market operators, raising critical questions about food handling practices, regulatory enforcement, and accountability.
This article delves into the root causes of this growing concern, the impacts on Fijian consumers, and what can be done to ensure fresh really means fresh.
The scope of the problem
The issue of spoiled produce is not just anecdotal, it’s statistically significant.
A staggering 399 complaints related to food and drink were lodged between January and December 2024 with the Consumer Council of Fiji.
This figure isn’t just a number, it represents the highest category of complaints across all consumer sectors, underscoring the severity and widespread nature of the problem.
These complaints paint a grim picture of the realities faced by Fijian shoppers.
Reports range from visibly mouldy fruits and vegetables to packaged goods well past their expiration dates, often sold without any price reductions or warnings.
Supermarkets, which many assume adhere to stricter quality control measures, are frequently cited in these grievances.
However, small-time operators, including roadside vendors and municipal market sellers, are not exempt from scrutiny.
Inconsistent storage conditions, poor handling practices, and the absence of rigorous oversight contribute to the problem, creating a perfect storm where rotten produce regularly finds its way into shopping baskets.
National taskforce on food safety
For many years, the council has repeatedly called for stronger regulations to ensure supermarkets are held accountable for the quality of their goods.
In 2024, a new taskforce was formed to investigate and address issues around food safety in Fiji, headed by the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, SME’s and Communications.
The taskforce brought together stakeholders such as the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Health, Agriculture, and organisations such as the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, the Fijian
Competition and Consumer Commission and the Consumer Council, among others.
This year, recognising the need for increased collaboration, the members of the National Food Safety Taskforce have signed an important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which ensures collaboration to improve the handling, storage, and sale of fresh produce in retail settings across the country.
Real-life impact on consumers
A Suva resident shared her experience of purchasing a pack of onions from a well-known supermarket that had already been packed for selling.
“The onions looked fresh when I picked them up, but when I got home, I found that several were already mouldy after peeling,” she recalled.
“I felt disappointed because I had paid full price for a product that was not fit for consumption.”
She attempted to contact the store for a refund or exchange but received no satisfactory resolution, which left her even more frustrated.
In another instance, a Lautoka family bought a bundle of bananas that seemed fine at first but when they peeled it at home, it had turned black inside rendering it inedible.
The family reached out to the supermarket but were not compensated or offered an apology.
These experiences reflect a broader trend where damaged goods are being sold without any care taken to indicate its deteriorated state.
This problem extends beyond individual complaints.
In some cases, supermarkets have displayed overripe produce right next to fresh produce, making it easy for consumers to unwittingly purchase substandard items.
Such practices not only frustrate consumers but also contribute to food waste because many of these items are discarded shortly after purchase.
The persistence of this problem suggests that even with existing systems in place, more proactive and adaptive measures are required from retailers to consistently maintain produce freshness.
Addressing this issue demands a coordinated effort that involves all stakeholders.
What can consumers do?
Consumers play a vital role in ensuring supermarkets adhere to standards and maintain the quality of fresh produce.
While regulatory bodies and retailers have their responsibilities, consumers can also be powerful agents of change through their purchasing habits, vigilance, and advocacy.
Here are a few proactive steps:
1. Always thoroughly inspect produce before purchasing. Look for signs of spoilage such as discoloration, bruising, mould or unusual odour. Boycott supermarkets that respect your right to quality products;
2. Report substandard goods like rotten or spoiled produce directly with the supermarket’s customer service team to prompt immediate action, and file a formal complaint with the Consumer Council of Fiji so the matter is documented, investigated, potentially leading to systemic changes;
3. Understand your consumer rights under Fijian law;
4. Advocate for greater transparency and accountability from supermarkets and boycott retailers who regularly ignore consumer health and safety;
5. Promote ethical purchasing and reward good practices with your business and spread the word within your community about stores that prioritise food safety and quality;
6. Raise awareness and use social media platforms to share your experiences with substandard produce; hold retailers publicly accountable for poor practices.
Conclusion
The sale of rotten produce in supermarkets affects consumer health and finances.
While the recent MOU signed between key stakeholders is a step in the right direction, ongoing vigilance from consumers is necessary to ensure supermarkets adhere to higher standards of quality control.
By staying informed and actively participating in the protection of consumer rights, Fijians can help drive the change needed to create a fairer and safer marketplace for all.
Report any such incidents to the council via our national toll-free line 155.
NOTE: This article was first published in the print edition of the Fiji Times dated FEBRUARY 8, 2025.
