After decades of waiting, the law establishing the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) was finally ratified. However, the name “PAFN” seems inadequate and misleading, as its oversight excludes medicines, despite their importance. Drug oversight remains under a non-independent department within the Ministry of Health. If it weren’t for the seriousness and firm actions taken recently by several bodies, prompted by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior’s strict handling of violations and offenders, we likely would not have seen any meaningful efforts from oversight bodies, including PAFN. PAFN, however, requires consumers to visit its website and fill out a silly form to report food violations, overlooking the fact that such complaints require confidentiality and privacy.
Years ago, I raised concerns with a senior official at PAFN about the authority’s inadequate name. She explained that the name was set by law and could not be changed. I explained to her that essential food items are destroyed once they reach their expiration date, which is typically set at two years according to a Gulf agreement.
However, this procedure is scientifically and medically inaccurate. Many products like honey, sugar, salt, and white rice have shelf lives far beyond two years, yet companies discard them out of fear of violations. Moreover, the two-year shelf life limit primarily relates to product quality, not food safety. While the taste or color of some foods may change after three or four years, they can still be safe and suitable for consumption if stored properly. This applies to items such as honey, salt, and sugar. Regulatory shelf life often reflects market logistics management rather than actual spoilage. For example, honey can remain usable indefinitely if stored in an airtight container away from moisture and contaminants.
In fact, honey has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, still safe for consumption thousands of years later. Salt does not expire if stored in a dry, uncontaminated environment. All types of sugar remain good for years unless exposed to moisture. White rice, when stored in cool, dry conditions, can remain usable for 25 to 30 years, while brown rice has a much shorter shelf life. PAFN management must work in cooperation with relevant Gulf authorities to amend these regulations and prevent the annual waste of hundreds of thousands of tons of food. It is also important to note that many items spoil before the two-year mark if not stored properly; for example, leaving them in a chalet during the hot summer months can accelerate spoilage.
The European Union follows a strict code regarding egg shelf life. It requires clearly defining expiration dates, identifying the source of the eggs, whether free-range or caged, and specifying the type of feed given to the chickens. There is no doubt that PAFN is aware of the European code, and it is their responsibility to implement similar standards in Kuwait. This failure to do so is unacceptable, especially considering that many countries outside the EU adopt these regulations to enhance food safety and allow regulatory authorities to trace the source of eggs when necessary. Furthermore, countries like Austria, Germany, and Switzerland have gone beyond the EU code by banning all forms of caged egg farming.
By Ahmad alsarraf
email: [email protected]
email: [email protected]
