The recent revelations by Verity News exposing contaminated beer sold by Abi Jaoudi Supermarket and West African Frozen Center with expired frozen fish peddled in Ganta, Nimba County, should send shockwaves through Liberia’s food safety and regulatory systems.
These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a deeper crisis that demands urgent attention from government authorities and the public alike.
For too long, foreign-owned businesses, particularly those operated by Lebanese entrepreneurs have dominated Liberia’s retail and food supply sectors with minimal oversight. The unchecked operations, combined with lax enforcement of health and safety regulations, are putting the health of everyday Liberians at risk.
The disturbing discovery of dirt-contaminated beer inside sealed bottles at a major supermarket, coupled with expired fish being sold to vulnerable rural populations, reveals a blatant disregard for consumer safety and human dignity. These are not merely regulatory breaches; they are potential threats to public health that could result in widespread illness or worse.
Health experts have long warned that consumption of contaminated or expired products can cause serious diseases ranging from acute food poisoning to chronic organ damage. The fact that these dangerous products continue to circulate freely exposes glaring weaknesses in our inspection, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms.
The government’s Commerce and Industry Ministry must take swift and decisive action. Surprise inspections, rigorous testing, and harsh penalties for offenders should become the norm rather than the exception. There must be no room for favoritism or political influence when public health is at stake.
Moreover, the involvement of foreign nationals in key sectors does not exempt their businesses from adhering to Liberian laws and standards. On the contrary, their operations must meet the highest possible benchmarks to protect consumer interests and foster trust.
The citizens of Liberia deserve transparency, accountability, and above all, safety in the products they consume. The continued circulation of substandard and hazardous goods undermines confidence in the market and threatens the wellbeing of families across the country.
It is time for all stakeholders, government, business owners, consumers, and civil society, to come together and demand a thorough overhaul of food safety regulations and enforcement. Let the incidents exposed by Verity News be a wake-up call and the catalyst for meaningful change.
Our people’s health cannot be compromised for profit. Liberia’s future depends on it.
