This study by Meraki Analytics evaluates the accuracy of rice bag weights in Freetown, Sierra Leone, focusing on discrepancies in packaged rice from two major suppliers.
Read the full report here.
Key Findings:
- Average Weight: The average net weight of a “50 kg” bag of rice is 49.45 kg, falling short by 0.55 kg.
- Supplier Disparities:
- Supplier A: Bags weigh approximately 49.025 kg, a shortfall of ~1 kg.
- Supplier B: Bags weigh 49.875 kg, a shortfall of 0.125 kg.
- Weight differences between suppliers are statistically significant.
- National Impact: Procuring all rice from Supplier A would result in a loss of 19.8 million kg annually, valued at NLe 367.5 million.
Recommendations:
- Tamper-Evident Packaging: Adopt transparent, secure packaging like Supplier B’s.
- Mandatory Scales: Enforce weighing scales in retail to ensure accuracy.
- Quality Control: Strengthen processes across the supply chain.
- Retail Verification: Retailers should routinely check consignment weights.
Conclusion:
Our analysis has shown discrepancies between the stated weight of a bag of rice across retail stores and the weight specified on its packaging. These findings underscore the need for enhanced regulatory oversight to protect consumers from financial and nutritional losses.
Read the full report here.
