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Shoprite warns against 'fake news' WhatsApp message on supply shortages

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A Shoprite store. (Duncan Alfreds, News24)
A Shoprite store. (Duncan Alfreds, News24)

Shoprite Group has warned against a WhatsApp message being circulated which claims to be from the Checkers' head office that indicates there will be a shortage of certain food products.

In a statement issued on Tuesday night, Shoprite said the message was "fake news".

"The message says that certain products will be scarce over the next month including sugar, fish oil, rice, flour and soap powder, and urges people to stock up and tell friends and family.

"This is not true. The Shoprite Group's stores including Shoprite, Checkers and USave are fully stocked on all these products and urges customers not to stockpile as this causes supply chain challenges," the statement read.

Shoprite appealed to consumers not to pass on fake news messages and assured that it continues to supply essential products.

Prior to the lockdown, Shoprite had also asked consumers to avoid panic buying as this disrupted supply chains. CEO Pieter Engelbrecht previously said that stockpiling would hit the vulnerable the hardest.

Compiled by Lameez Omarjee

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