Who Is Protecting Consumers from Expired Food in Juba?

The discovery of suspected expired food being repackaged for sale in Juba raises serious questions about public health and consumer protection. How safe is the food reaching our tables if goods that have passed their expiry dates can allegedly be repackaged and prepared for sale? By the time authorities discovered the suspected malpractice, how much of this food might already have been consumed by unsuspecting residents?

We commend the Juba County Caretaker Commissioner and the Central Equatoria State Government for taking action, ordering the company’s closure pending verification by the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards and directing that legal measures be pursued against those responsible. Protecting consumers must remain a priority, and no business should be allowed to put public health at risk for profit.

However, closing the company is only the first step. The public deserves answers about how the suspected repackaging occurred, how long it had been going on, where the goods were distributed, and whether other businesses may be engaging in similar practices. Authorities should urgently trace the affected products, disclose the findings of the investigation and take appropriate action to protect consumers.

We also call on the security agencies to investigate the circumstances under which this allegedly happened. Companies often have security personnel deployed at their premises, whether from the police, National Security or the army. Were security personnel present at this facility while the suspected activities were taking place? If so, what did they know, and what action did they take? These are legitimate questions that deserve thorough investigation, not assumptions of guilt.

The conduct of any security personnel assigned to the company should be examined, and anyone found to have knowingly facilitated, ignored or concealed illegal activity should be held accountable in accordance with the law.

Ultimately, public safety cannot depend on occasional inspections or discoveries made after suspected wrongdoing has occurred. The National Bureau of Standards, health authorities, county officials and security agencies must strengthen inspections, enforce food safety regulations and ensure that expired or contaminated products do not reach consumers.

The people of Juba deserve to know that the food they buy and eat is safe. Protecting that right requires transparent investigations, effective enforcement and accountability for everyone found responsible.