Survey conducted to curb bread shortfalls

By Chanel September
15 February 2008

The South African Bureau of Standards’ Regulatory Division conducted a survey in the bread industry to determine the level of compliance with legal metrology requirements in this sector.

More than 197 bakeries across all provinces and approximately 426 batches of bread were inspected for compliance. The survey resulted in a 23% non-compliance representing 99 instances of short measures identified.

The highest number of offenders were identified in the Eastern Cape as 30% of bread inspected found to be short measured.

The Free State showed the lowest number of shortfalls with only 15 % of the batches tested found to be short measured.

”In terms of Section 45 of the Trade Metrology Act, Act 77 of 1973, it is necessary in terms of public interest and protection of consumers to reveal the names of the bakeries that showed the lowest average mass in each of the provinces”, says SABS CEO, Martin Kuscus.

Some of the bakeries that were found to have the lowest average mass:

· AIB, Mamelodi – 56 g short on average on 700 g loaves of white bread

· Soshanguve Spar – 86 g short on average on 700 g loaves of brown bread

· Glo Bakeries, Vosloorus – 69 g short on average on 700 g loaves of brown bread

· Emnambithi Bakeries, Ladysmith – 62 g short on average on 600 g loaves of brown bread

· Rainbow Bakery, King Williams Town – 68 g short on average on 600g loaves of white bread

· Checkers Big Bay, Seaside Village, Bloubergstrand – 40 g short on average on 700 g loaves of white bread

· Kenworth Spar, Bloemfontein – 76 g short on average on 700 g loaves of brown bread

The SABS reiterated that if manufacturers continue to take unfair advantage of consumers by offering short measured goods for sale, their companies will be named.