Shrinking bread size worries Kandahar residents

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): Residents of southern Kandahar province claim there is 30 grams difference in the weight of a piece of bread worth 15 afghanis compared to that fixed by the municipality.

The residents also allege that some bakeries used substandard flour, which cause them health problems and called on the municipality to strictly monitor the bakery shops.

Sadiqullah, a resident of eighth police district of Kandahar City, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the bread size had recently shrunk while its price remained the same.

He said the municipality had fixed 220 grams weight of a bread worth 15 afghanis, but the bakeries sold the bread weighing 190 and 195 grams. He said he had himself weighed the bread and found a difference of 25 to 30 grams.

He said bakeries had reduced the bread weight while the price of flour remained steady. He urged the municipality to closely monitor the bakeries and end the injustice they were committing.

Another resident, Akhtar Mohammad, said the municipality did not monitor bakeries which were situated in streets away from the main bazaar.

He said these bakeries used substandard flour and had reduced the weight of bread and therefore the municipality should monitor their activities.

On the other hand, bakers also admit that some bakeries had reduced the weight and sold small loaves of bread to the public, which was not only a violation of the law, but also a form of deception.

Hidayatullah, a bakery owner, said the municipality had fixed 220 grams the weight of bread worth 15 afghanis and he had never violated the weight. He said the municipality should grill bakeries who sold reduced size bread and used substandard flour.

However, bakeries that sold reduced size bread argued that the price of flour and gas had increased and they had no option but reduce the bread size in order to gain some profit.

One bakery owner, Noor Ahmad, said they used standard flour but had reduced the bread size by 20 grams. “This is not the time when a bag of flour was sold for 1300 afghanis, we use standard flour which is priced at 2200 afghanis. If don’t reduce the bread size, we cannot even earn a single afghani.”

Zmarai Sargand , a spokesman for the Kandahar municipality, said all bakeries had been given a price list that should not be less than a certain amount of weight and should not be too expensive.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News the weight of the bread should be 220 grams and the price 15 afghanis.

“The municipality’s inspection team is regularly monitoring the situation; if anyone violates it, they will be punished,” he said.

The number of bakeries registered with the municipality is 350, but their actual number exceeds 500.

ma

Views: 65