OUAGADOUGOU — Recent inspections by the Burkinabè Agency for Standardization and Metrology (ABNORM) revealed that several bakeries in Ouagadougou are selling baguettes that fall short of the standard weight of 160 grams. This discovery was made during a surprise inspection conducted from the night of August 16 to 17, 2024.

According to Burkina Informational Agency, the director of meteorology at ABNORM, the operation was triggered by mounting complaints from the local populace regarding bakeries not adhering to the legal bread weight standards. Most of the inspected bakeries were found to offer baguettes significantly lighter than the stipulated 160 grams, with a permissible deviation of only 5%.

During the inspections, which were accompanied by journalists, the agency took the opportunity to encourage consumers to remain vigilant and report any discrepancies by calling a toll-free number provided by ABNORM. Sawadogo highlighted the potential legal consequences for non-compliance, which include fines ranging from 500,000 to 500 million FCFA and possible imprisonment from one to five years, or both.

The agency has announced plans to continue these inspections across the capital and other regions of Burkina Faso to ensure compliance with bread weight regulations, signaling a sustained effort to uphold consumer rights and industry standards.