ANYONE can be easily lured if the price of something, be it food items or clothes, is much cheaper than the normal price.
But in as far as food is concerned, anything that is sold cheaper than the price it is normally sold at, should send a wake-up signal.
What should come in a person's mind is whether the food item is of good quality or not. This is more important now since the recent floods.
DON'T be lured into buying food items sold at reduced prices since the flood.
And if you are living in a rural area, then be wary of what you are buying from the shop nearest to you.
The warning from the Ministry of Health's Food Unit comes at a time when the safety of food people consume is of paramount importance.
It is especially more important since the recent flood in the Western Division, which resulted in food items being submerged by floodwaters.
While some shops and supermarkets took heed of the Food Unit's warning after the January flood, a few did not and went ahead and sold damaged food items.
Food Unit head Samuela Bolalailai said the unit had identified some companies which were selling food items submerged in floodwaters despite numerous reminders.
"We got reports, we went in and confiscated the items and closed the premises," he said.
"We are working on three cases in Nadi now and we will lay charges against those shops and supermarkets," Mr Bolalailai said.
With the Food Safety Act in place, he says they will do everything within the legal framework to enforce the Act.
Mr Bolalailai said: "People should not be lured into buying food items sold at reduced prices after the floods."
"We will not leave any stone unturned, we will dig deep, gather evidence against those businesses and lay charges.
"Such trading practices have been happening all this time and the only way we can stop it is by taking people to court and asking for the highest penalty.
"Ultimately, we will revoke their licences too."
Mr Bolalailai said retail shops in rural areas were also buying flood-damaged food items from supermarkets at cheaper prices.
He said the Food Unit had identified this trend and was trying to cut out the supply chain to ensure people get quality food to eat.