The Fiji Sugar Corporation is now looking into concerns regarding quality of sugar as people have found foreign particles inside sugar packets which looks like stones, metal and even grass.
This is not the first time foreign particles have been found inside sugar packets as we highlighted this in September last year.
When questioned, FSC’s Manager Quality, Sandeep Kumar says they have recently received similar feedback from a few customers on the presence of lumps and black flakes.
Kumar says upon inspection and analysis, it was confirmed to be sugar lumps and caramelised sugar. He says sugar has ability to absorb moisture and form lumps and change colour to dark brown based on the condition and duration of storage.
When questioned on how these foreign particles are found in sugar packets and what is being done about it, Kumar says they have a Food Safety Program comprising of good manufacturing and hygiene practices in place to ensure that foreign material such as wood are captured within the processing system.
He says the quality control measures includes screens and magnets at mills and packaging plant to capture foreign material which are inspected at regular intervals on a daily basis.
Kumar says they will continue to improve the current stored sugar from their last crushing season with existing quality mechanism.
He adds improvements have been implemented such as replacement of liquor-screen, shaker screens, repair of drip gate at fugal process at Lautoka mill and procurement of new set of bulka-bags to capture and store sugar safely for packaging plant.
We have also contacted the Consumer Council of Fiji and Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Consumer Council of Fiji’s CEO, Seema Shandil says they will look into this issue.
Shandil says they will also go around and observe sugar quality.
FCCC is yet to respond.
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