UNBS to test foods, medicines
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is to start testing for contaminants in foods, medicine and other consumables. UNBS staff in the chemistry laboratory are being trained how to use the High Perfomamce Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the newly-a
By Samuel Balagadde
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is to start testing for contaminants in foods, medicine and other consumables. UNBS staff in the chemistry laboratory are being trained how to use the High Perfomamce Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the newly-acquired equipment.
The HPLC is used frequently in biochemistry and analytical chemistry to separate, identify, and quantify compounds. It was supplied by SMM Instruments from South Africa.
Douglas Gibbs, one of the trainers from SMM Instruments, said the equipment, which uses modern technology, facilitates detection of foreign ingredients in any substance.
He said the equipment also detects the quantity of alcohol in human blood and methanol in spirits.
“The equipment will assist much in determining pesticide residuals in food, methanol in alcohol and characterising edible oils to determine whether they are adulterated,†Gibbs added.
The liquid chromatography also determines levels of extra sugars in foods, vitamins and ingredients in preservatives applied in foods and medicines.
Moses Sebunnya, the UNBS’s spokesperson, said there has been public outcry about adulteration of products, while other products have ingredients written on the containers yet they are not what is packed inside.
“We are taking random samples from different items in order to test them to prove whether they conform to standards,†Sebunnya said.
He said some companies that were certified by UNBS were also being monitored to ensure the quality is sustained or else their licences would be cancelled.
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is to start testing for contaminants in foods, medicine and other consumables. UNBS staff in the chemistry laboratory are being trained how to use the High Perfomamce Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the newly-acquired equipment.
The HPLC is used frequently in biochemistry and analytical chemistry to separate, identify, and quantify compounds. It was supplied by SMM Instruments from South Africa.
Douglas Gibbs, one of the trainers from SMM Instruments, said the equipment, which uses modern technology, facilitates detection of foreign ingredients in any substance.
He said the equipment also detects the quantity of alcohol in human blood and methanol in spirits.
“The equipment will assist much in determining pesticide residuals in food, methanol in alcohol and characterising edible oils to determine whether they are adulterated,†Gibbs added.
The liquid chromatography also determines levels of extra sugars in foods, vitamins and ingredients in preservatives applied in foods and medicines.
Moses Sebunnya, the UNBS’s spokesperson, said there has been public outcry about adulteration of products, while other products have ingredients written on the containers yet they are not what is packed inside.
“We are taking random samples from different items in order to test them to prove whether they conform to standards,†Sebunnya said.
He said some companies that were certified by UNBS were also being monitored to ensure the quality is sustained or else their licences would be cancelled.