KUALA LUMPUR: A surprise inspection at the Tesco Hypermarket here by authorities and consumer groups found expired goods along with fake Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) labelled products on its shelves.

The routine inspection was jointly carried out by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and Consumer Protection and Welfare Malaysia Board (LPKPM) along with the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM).

The various food items including canned and dry goods along with titbits was worth RM1,000.

Lee  (right), Saharuddin and Alias check the expired and spoilt food sold in the hypermarket.

Health Ministry enviromental health (food control) assistant officer Alias Abdullah said the products were seized under the Food Act 1983 and the offence carries a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment upon conviction.

Also present were Ministry of Domestic Trade,Co-operatives and Consumerism Kajang branch officer Fauzi Mustaffa, LPKPM president Datuk Seri Dr Saharuddin Awang Yahya and vice-president Dr Lee Nan Sang.

Saharuddin said he was shocked that Tesco could sell products which expired more than three or four  months ago.

He said LPKPM’s 1500 members in Kuala Lumper, Selangor and Malacca would continue to carry out checks on products sold in the market.

“We will write to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to conduct regular operations and spot checks at all supermarkets and hypermarkets,” he said.

He also suggested that the ministry rate the business operators by their service. Outlets which breach the law should be downgraded.

Tesco did not comment on the issue at press time.