The few days before Christmas usually brings forth legions of entrepreneurs offering cheap wares from roadside stalls or directly from the boot of cars. In particular, the popularity of seafood for the festive season results in many offers of oysters and prawns.
Saving a little money would be a bad trade if the end result is a bout of food poisoning. It would be wise to think long and hard about the safety of any food products on offer from a " no questions asked " itinerant retailer.
In many cases cheap oysters turn out to be a product stolen from an oyster farm, but what we don't know is if that oyster farm has been subject to a sales embargo because the river water has suffered pollution. The thieves couldn't care less. That is not their problem. They are only interested in making a quick profit and if customers suffer health problems they are almost impossible to trace.
Even if the product offered is legitimate, there is a health problem involved. This is the hot time of the year and the best these roadside people can offer is a few bags of ice to keep the stock fresh - and that does not last long in the boot of a car. Shop refrigeration is subjected to regular health checks to ensure food is kept at the right temperature. Roadside prawns carry no health guarantees.
It is a fact of life that many big food wholesalers use the festive season to clear out stock that has been held in refrigeration too long. There is an optimum shelf life for most refrigerated food and it is tempting to unload stock that is nearing it's " use by " date to the " roadside merchants " looking for a quick bargain.
As well as food, a risk factor exists in most things offered at roadside stalls. Some merchants have a stock of " last minute " Christmas gifts - for those either short of money or who are desperate for something when all the shops have closed for the Christmas break.
Often what is offered is the products withdrawn from sale because they posed safety risks. The legitimate shops are prevented from selling these toys and they have " jobbed " them out to a roadside reseller at a loss to recoup a few dollars. A buyer is risking loose parts that may choke a child or dangerous darts that could lead to blindness. These products are cheap - and nasty !
The big attraction is usually - price ! Whenever something is on offer at a price way below what you would normally expect to pay - it would be a good idea to think it through - and wonder why ?
That usually brings you to suspect this offering has a " dodgy " background.
Which brings into play that old truism - When the price is low the quality matches the price !
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