Zambia acts against 'underweight' loaves of bread, bakeries summoned

After a surge in complaints against underweight loaves of bread sold in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, the state agency in charge of weights took action.

On Wednesday, the Zambia Weights and Measures Agency (ZWMA) stormed some bakeries and confiscated hundreds of loaves of bread that were found to be under the weight printed on the packaging.

Some bakeries who were using unapproved scales were also summoned, the agency said in a statement published by local media.

According to Zambia’s Weights and Measures Act 1998, the standard bread weights are 600g, 700g and 800g. It also stipulates that the weight should not vary more than two percent less or four per cent more of the declared weight, local media portal Lusaka Times reported.

The public relations officer of ZWMA Mutale Chileshe said the use of unapproved scales is illegal and “corrective action will be taken to ensure compliance with weights and measure regulations”.

He called on the public to report any suspicion to the outfit to ensure that bakeries are in compliance with the law.