Update: 1:36PM TRADERS, particularly supermarkets, are urged to exercise responsibility and refrain from selling food and other perishable items damaged by the cyclone.

Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Premila Kumar called on all food stores to do the right thing and destroy food items and meat that were affected because of power outage and flood water.

“The constant power outage is being experienced around the country with refrigerators loaded with food, especially chicken, meat, frozen vegies and dairy products going on and off. As a result, these food items would have become thawed and to sell them to the cyclone-struck consumers is highly unethical,” she said.

“Public health safety is paramount and the traders and or retailers must take the lead role in disposing off the affected food and meat products, ensuring that it is out of reach of even the scavengers or those corner-street tuck shops who may want to take advantage of the situation.

“Traders who attempt to profit from the misery of others during these times will not be tolerated and will be reported to the Fiji Commerce Commission, who are the enforcement agency for consumer protection as well as the Food Safety Unit.”