What is UNBS’s position on the ice cream?
Sep 29, 2009
EDITOR—On September 20, The New Vision published a story entitled “UNBS stops ice cream producing firmsâ€. In the story, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is reported to have discovered that the ice cream did not meet the required stand
EDITOR—On September 20, The New Vision published a story entitled “UNBS stops ice cream producing firmsâ€. In the story, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is reported to have discovered that the ice cream did not meet the required standards.
The UNBS deputy executive director, Dr Ben Manyindo, is quoted to have said that UNBS had stopped the production of ice cream until the required standards were met. The certificate of analysis report, according to UNBS, revealed presence of salmonella and escherichia coli (fecal matter)!
The plants affected were named as Rainbow Industries, Snowman, Marks Cream of Uganda and Quest Dairy. Interestingly, this Monday, only a week later, The New Vision published a story entitled “Ice cream plants clearedâ€.
It is reported that the plants which had been stopped from production had been cleared by the Dairy Development Authority (DDA).
According to the executive director of the DDA, Dr Nathan Twinamasiko, the ice cream is safe for human consumption. Now, which is which? In the Monday story, there is no comment from the UNBS which is mandated to monitor standards in the country and which stopped the production of the ice cream. Is the DDA’s mandate the same as that of the UNBS?
Did the UNBS make wrong analysis of the state of the ice cream where production was stopped? This is a health issue that cannot be left to speculation. UNBS has a duty to clear the air about this important matter.
Dr Jane Apolot
Christchurch, New Zealand
The UNBS deputy executive director, Dr Ben Manyindo, is quoted to have said that UNBS had stopped the production of ice cream until the required standards were met. The certificate of analysis report, according to UNBS, revealed presence of salmonella and escherichia coli (fecal matter)!
The plants affected were named as Rainbow Industries, Snowman, Marks Cream of Uganda and Quest Dairy. Interestingly, this Monday, only a week later, The New Vision published a story entitled “Ice cream plants clearedâ€.
It is reported that the plants which had been stopped from production had been cleared by the Dairy Development Authority (DDA).
According to the executive director of the DDA, Dr Nathan Twinamasiko, the ice cream is safe for human consumption. Now, which is which? In the Monday story, there is no comment from the UNBS which is mandated to monitor standards in the country and which stopped the production of the ice cream. Is the DDA’s mandate the same as that of the UNBS?
Did the UNBS make wrong analysis of the state of the ice cream where production was stopped? This is a health issue that cannot be left to speculation. UNBS has a duty to clear the air about this important matter.
Dr Jane Apolot
Christchurch, New Zealand