Business

Bakers warned on bread weights

9 September 2010

Bread suppliers who fleece South African consumers by reducing the weight of bread will be dealt with harshly, says the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).

"There are many tricks that suppliers are doing. Many producers and suppliers are contravening bread regulations across the country," NRCS CEO Moses Moeletsi told reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday.

He referred to the bust of numerous "Bread For You" (BFY) loaves in Wellington in the Western Cape two weeks ago. Inspectors found their loaves be lighter than the 600g weight declared on the packaging. The bread weighed in at between 429g and 398g.

According to the Trade Metrology (the science of measurement) Act, bread could not weigh less than five percent of the declared quantity, or more than 10%.

Moeletsi said the government needed to ensure that contravenors faced harsher prosecution through reviewing the Act to close loopholes, adding that they should have their profits taken away instead of being fined.

"At the moment, suppliers in contravention of the law only pay a fine, depending on the ruling by the magistrate." He said some suppliers were fined a mere R1 000.

Sapa