A customer who claims to have developed health complications after consuming expired chocolate bought from Shoprite supermarket has filed a lawsuit seeking 300 million in compensation .
In a petition filed in the high court civil division, Francis Jjumba claims that on 23rd of April 2020, he went to Shoprite Lugogo and bought groceries including Ferrero Rocher chocolate.
In his court documents, Jjumba claims that after eating the said chocolate, he got sick and when he thought medical attention St Felistus Clinic in Bulenga, he was diagnosed with gastrointestinal disorder; an ailment associated with eating contaminated food or expired products.
Jjumba says that when he was referred to Lancet laboratories to under go a thorough diagnosis and medical examinations, he decided to look for the chocolate pack and found out that the said chocolate had expired on the 10th April 2020 making it unfit for human consumption
Through his lawyers led by Nalukoola Luyimbazi, Jjumba is accusing Shoprite of negligently breaching its care duty to his customers including him by violating the standards required by Uganda National Bureau of Standards Code when it displayed and sold an expired product.
He says the said money is for among other things medical treatment , consultation and transportation bills and special damages.
He says that despite his lawyers writing to the plaintiff on the 28th of April to pay his compensation for the untold inconveniences, mental anguish, anxiety and embarrassment suffered, the supermarket has turned a blind eye forcing him to seek legal redress.
Court has summoned Shoprite to file its defense in 14 days.