The Consumer Council has confirmed it has received complaints from consumers who say they became ill after eating food purchased from restaurants and other food outlets, the latest development in growing concerns over food safety and the marketing of unhealthy foods in Fiji. Chief Executive Seema Shandil told the parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs on Tuesday that the council is taking such complaints seriously but faces hurdles in securing legal redress for affected consumers.
Shandil said the council refers these complaints to the Ministry of Health and advises complainants to obtain medical reports to substantiate claims. “So whenever we get this kind of complaints we do flag to Ministry of Health and we do ask the consumers to get a medical report and we have — some of the consumers have received compensation,” she told committee members, confirming that compensation has been paid in at least some cases where medical documentation supported the claim.
But Shandil warned proving liability remains one of the biggest obstacles. Establishing a direct causal link between a specific food item or outlet and illness can be complex, she told MPs, complicating efforts to hold businesses accountable and to secure consistent remedies for victims. That difficulty underscores gaps in enforcement and the evidentiary burden placed on consumers seeking compensation.
The Consumer Council also outlined collaborative efforts with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health aimed at strengthening regulation around the promotion and marketing of unhealthy food products, a parallel public health concern. Shandil said the council is due to meet with UNICEF later this week to discuss regulatory strategies, signalling a push for coordinated policy responses that address both food safety and unhealthy food marketing practices.
Committee members used the session to press for stronger hygiene and food safety oversight across municipal areas, recommending that the issue be taken up with municipal councils as part of broader public health responsibilities. MPs expressed concern that inconsistent hygiene standards and enforcement at the local level could be contributing to incidents of foodborne illness and eroding consumer confidence in food outlets.
The Consumer Council’s briefing to the Standing Committee represents the latest public acknowledgement by authorities and consumer advocates of systemic challenges in protecting the public from food-related harm. The scheduled meeting with UNICEF and ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Health will be watched for concrete policy proposals or enforcement initiatives, particularly measures to improve liability pathways for consumers and to tighten controls on the marketing of unhealthy foods.
For now, the council is urging affected consumers to secure medical documentation and to report incidents so cases can be referred to health authorities. The coming discussions with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health may determine whether those individual complaints prompt broader regulatory changes or strengthened municipal oversight that could reduce future risks.