Infant Formula Milk Found Subjected to Price Gouging Through Sticker Tampering

Kathmandu. Extreme fraud has been found occurring even in 'formula milk' consumed by infants. It has been discovered that the manufacturer has covered the actual price set by the producer on the 'Nutricia' brand milk and charged consumers a higher price by affixing a new sticker with an inflated price.

While purchasing formula milk for his infant, a consumer found a sticker with an increased price affixed over the price mentioned on the milk carton. The consumer, who has been purchasing the milk regularly for the past two months, informed Ratopati on condition of anonymity that the Nutricia brand milk had been relabeled.

He said, 'I have bought 20-25 cartons of milk so far. However, the price was written on a red sticker affixed to the bottom of the carton. Upon peeling it off out of suspicion, I found that a higher price was mentioned than the actual price printed by the manufacturer.'

A new sticker showing NPR 1,495 is affixed to the bottom of the carton. But the actual price printed underneath that sticker is only NPR 1,415, the consumer told Ratopati.

When the consumer questioned the concerned shop regarding this matter, the shopkeeper reportedly replied that it always comes this way from the supplier.

According to the Consumer Protection Act, charging more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) mentioned on any item or tampering with the price by affixing a sticker is a punishable offense. Increasing the price and selling it in sensitive food items consumed by infants is wrong both ethically and legally.

The consumer has already filed a complaint with the Department of Commerce regarding this incident. In this context, the Department of Commerce has stated that it will monitor the situation and initiate necessary action if required.