Consumers are being warned against unscrupulous promotional offers and advertising during Ramadan.

Bahrain Consumer Protection Society chairman Majed Sharaf urged shoppers not to fall victim to enticing offers which are often used to clear old stock.

"Businessmen mix good items with bad and sell them together," he told the GDN.

"People buy expired food along with good products. Promotional items often are nearly expired.

"New stock is sold individually while old items are sold as part of a multiple offering."

The society raised a red flag over food and safety standards during the holy month, citing improper storage of food as the cause of many illnesses.

Mr Sharaf referred to the recent scare about impure water as a case of poor storage.

"In most cold stores and hypermarkets, during transportation or storage, the water is exposed to the sun," he said.

"The water reacts with plastic under high temperatures and releases toxins which are harmful to the human body."

Supermarkets and food suppliers maintain standards of safety, however, they fail to check proper storage of food, said Mr Sharaf.

"The product may have a good expiry date but it will be defective because the storage is poor.

"The water crisis we faced was all about the storage and not about the quality of water."

The recurring problem of unhygienic transportation of meat has surfaced again this year, he added.

"Meat is transported from the meat market on the back of corroded vehicles," he said.

"The animal carcasses are stuck to the sides of the vehicles.

"They're exposed to the sun and attract many insects."

Mr Sharaf also cautioned people against hoarding food during Ramadan as perishable items will not keep fresh.

"Please don't hurry up to hoard food.

"We're not at war, we're only in Ramadan. Buy what you need only for a few days as food tends to go bad."

The official cautioned consumers against falling prey to misleading advertising which compels them to spend more.

He also encouraged shoppers to be economical during Ramadan and not be lured into buying the most expensive items off supermarket shelves.

"It's difficult to change old habits, especially with regard to food," he told the GDN.

"Most items which people consume out of habit since childhood are actually priced higher as you pay for the product, the advertising as well as the brand name."

Mr Sharaf cited the example of a popular fruit concentrate drink, traditionally consumed during the breaking of the fast.

"Earlier, fresh juice from local suppliers was expensive and the fruit concentrate was a more viable option," he said.

"Now, fresh juices are cheaper but people still opt for an additive-laden drink because of the emotional attachment to a product they've consumed since childhood."