Unscrupulous bakeries and middlemen are palming off underweight bread to an unsuspecting public, particularly in areas outside city centres.
Although an average loaf of unpackaged or naked bread - commonly referred to as government bread - is supposed to weigh 800g, loaves as light as 600g are being peddled at the heavier price in KwaZulu Natal.
There is a natural tolerance level for the stipulated 800g loaf, which gives bakeries leeway to produce loaves as low as 720g. It is this latitude that some bakeries are abusing to increase profits.
Bagged bread can be produced at 400g and higher, as long as the weight is clearly stipulated.
Of 13 loaves of unbagged white and brown bread bought from outlets throughout the Durban region this week, five weighed under 700g and one weighed 600g. Only two met the ideal 800g requirement.
Se Higgins is the managing director of Associated Independent Bakeries, a new chain of independent bakeries founded by former bakery executives concerned with the state of the industry. He says that the public is unaware that many loaves they buy are underweight.
According to the chain, certain retail outlets in KwaZulu Natal are being sold "mixed batches" of bread between 600g and 700g at discount prices from some of the large bakeries. They then sell the bread at the normal price.
Max Walters, managing director of Genfood Bakery Division, producers of Blue Ribbon and BB bread, pointed out that his company is too big to compromise its name in such a scam.
"I can't say what others are doing but we're certainly not ripping off customers."