Juba County Authorities Seize Expired Food Products at Kuburi Haboba Market

By Awan Achiek

Authorities in Juba County, Central Equatoria State, have seized expired food products from a shop at Kuburi Haboba Market following an inspection aimed at preventing the sale of unsafe goods and protecting consumers from potential health risks.

The operation, led by Caretaker Commissioner Moulana Kalisto Lado on Tuesday, uncovered expired wheat flour, biscuits, juice, sweets, and other food items stored under poor conditions.

During the inspection, officials discovered several expired products, including wheat flour, biscuits, juice, sweets, and other food items, all kept in unsatisfactory storage conditions.

Speaking to the media at Kuburi Haboba Market, Commissioner Kalisto stated that the operation was prompted by reports of traders selling various expired goods at the market on the outskirts of Juba.

“We received information, and upon acting on it, we rushed to the location. Here we are inside the store, where we found expired wheat flour, biscuits, juice, sweets, and many other items,” Kalisto said.

He expressed concern over the storage conditions, noting that the goods were kept directly on the floor in a facility lacking proper ventilation.

“First of all, the storage system is very poor; there is no ventilation at all. Secondly, you can see the items are simply placed on the floor,” he said.

Kalisto warned that selling expired and spoiled food products poses serious risks to public health and endangers consumers’ lives.

“This is one of the causes of cancer and a contributing factor to many deaths in Juba and across all states of South Sudan,” he said.

He added that the government of Central Equatoria State would collaborate with relevant authorities to address the issue and protect consumers.

“The government of Central Equatoria, under the capable leadership of Governor Agustino Jadalla Kamilo and my responsibility as the Commissioner of Juba County, will work closely to resolve this issue,” he said.

Kalisto also raised concerns about the expiration dates of the products found in the shop, emphasizing the need for traders to adhere to food safety standards and ensure that goods sold to the public are safe for consumption.

“Additionally, many of the products were expired. Our people are suffering and even dying because of expired goods. They are consistently being sold spoiled items,” he said.

The discovery comes amid growing concerns about the sale of expired and poorly stored food products in markets across Juba, raising questions about consumer protection and the enforcement of food safety regulations.

This incident follows the arrest of eight suspects the previous week for allegedly repackaging expired flour for resale at H Brothers General Trading and Investment Co. Ltd. in Gumbo, Juba County.

The suspects were reportedly caught transferring expired maize flour into new sacks for resale. Following the discovery, the company was shut down, and the suspects were arrested pending legal proceedings.