Every time you walk into a local supermarket have you ever thought about stopping to check the packaging details of processed or canned or even fresh food you want to buy or are thinking of buying?

Having lived through the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two and a half years in Samoa, the public health crisis has had a major impact on how we live our lives, which includes shopping and the type of food we buy and even the shops we chose to go to.

Thanks to the pandemic, today more people are cooking meals at home, which means longer shopping hours to ensure the pantry at home is fully stocked, just in case there is another lockdown. 

But amid the return to normalcy for us in Samoa, following the reopening of the country’s borders last month, how many times have you stopped to read the packaging labels on the food you are buying?

We ask this question because just this week the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) issued a public notice that warned of the dangers of eating Crest Table Eggs and for that brand of eggs not to be sold or bought.

The public notice issued by the Ministry last Thursday 25 August 2022 was signed by the Acting Director General of Health, Dr. Glen Fatupaito.

"Pursuant to the Section 21 of the Food Act 2015, the Ministry of Health hereby recalls the use and sale of the following products by the public," the public notice from the Ministry reads. 

"The following products in the market are known to be unsafe for consumption and have incorrect labelling of laying dates which is not compliant with Food Act 2015. 

"As per Schedule 6 of the Food Act 2015 for Standards on eggs – eggs have a shelf life of 30 days after laying if stored in a cool area. 

"The Crest Table Eggs have exceeded the 30 days shelf life. The public is hereby advised that the recalled food product is expired and found to be unfit for human consumption."

Early last month this newspaper reported on a popular snack, Tako Chips and how it was the subject of an investigation by the M.O.H. after authorities in American Samoa removed the snack from store shelves, due to the significant exposure of customers to chemicals that cause cancer and birth defects. 

The local distributor in Samoa noted that Tako chips contain an “acrylamide” component that derives from seafood and seaweed, and can be a natural ingredient.   

It stated that in accordance with the U.S. relevant laws in particular California state law (proposition 65), “acrylamide” component is covered under the list of chemicals pertaining to Proposition 65.  

“P65” (proposition 65) – which is a requirement in California, U.S. for businesses to provide warnings – on significant exposure to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or harm to the reproductive system. 

We are not sure when the M.O.H. will complete its investigation into the snack and if it meets Samoan food and safety regulations. 

But the Ministry’s public notice on Crest Table Eggs and the investigation into Tako Chips should raise red flags and compel shoppers to be more attentive to the packaging labels when they are out shopping.

And while it is reassuring to know that there is a Food and Safety Division within the M.O.H. who appear to be on top of things, we wonder if more should be done to draw a shopper’s attention to products, which should be put on a watch list.

This level of proactiveness should also assist the country’s long-term health plans to tackle one of the world’s highest rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which continues to be exacerbated by the ability of ordinary citizens to buy processed food despite the  exorbitant cost. 

The increase in remittances from families living abroad to their loved ones back in Samoa over the last 6-8 months, is expanding the purchasing power of families back home, and most times at the expense of their health due to their poor shopping choices while out and about.

Forcing retailers through legislation to ensure there is nutrition information on food labels and warnings are brightly displayed next to the product on the shelf could be the way to go if Samoa is to address its health challenges.