UNBS stops ice cream producing firms
Sep 20, 2009
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards has, with immediate effect, ordered all ice cream manufacturing firms under probe to stop production.
By Patrick Jaramogi
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards has, with immediate effect, ordered all ice cream manufacturing firms under probe to stop production.
“We discovered that the ice cream does not meet the required standards. We want them to stop producing until they are cleared,†the UNBS deputy executive director, Dr. Ben Manyindo said last week.
The ice cream plants affected include Rainbow Industries Uganda Limited makers of Simka ice cream, Snowman Uganda Limited makers of Frenzy ice cream, Marks, Cream of Uganda Limited makers of Kooksy ice cream and Quest Diary Products of Uganda.
According to UNBS certificate of analysis reports conducted in August, the ice cream firms failed the tests for total plate count, yeast and moulds.
The tests also indicated that the ice cream had presence of salmonella and escherichia coli (fecal matter).
Manyindo said the standards agency had set up a task force to investigate the “substandard ice creamâ€in the market.
“We can’t say we have closed the ice cream plants or suspended them, but we have told them to stop producing as we investigate them. We don’t want to put the health of consumers at risk,†he said in an interview.
Last week, the firms’ quality assurance manager, Patrick Ssekitoleko confirmed the ice cream plants were “under probeâ€.
“We tested their products and they failed to meet our set laboratory standards. We have forwarded the results to the Dairy Development Authority (DDA) for further review,†he said.
According to lab results from the Diary Development Authority, only Fidodido Industries Limited had been cleared.
Agnes Baguma, the DDA quality and regulatory services manager, in a certificate of analysis number DDA/FDD/1/09 stated that the ice cream samples tested from Fidodido had met the micro-biological requirements.
“Those that have not submitted their samples for quality checks should do so before the law catches up with them,†Manyindo added.
Regarding the “killer waragi†brands that claimed over 40 lives, UNBS warned the public to desist from drinking the banned liquors such as Empire Waragi, African Gin, Princes Vodka, Planet Vodka and Rwenzori Gin.
Manyindo said all licences of waragi producing plants had been revoked.
“We are cleaning up the mess, that is why we cancelled their licences. Those that meet the required standards will be allowed to produce.
The statutory body is charged with ensuring that all imports and locally manufactured products meet required standard.
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards has, with immediate effect, ordered all ice cream manufacturing firms under probe to stop production.
“We discovered that the ice cream does not meet the required standards. We want them to stop producing until they are cleared,†the UNBS deputy executive director, Dr. Ben Manyindo said last week.
The ice cream plants affected include Rainbow Industries Uganda Limited makers of Simka ice cream, Snowman Uganda Limited makers of Frenzy ice cream, Marks, Cream of Uganda Limited makers of Kooksy ice cream and Quest Diary Products of Uganda.
According to UNBS certificate of analysis reports conducted in August, the ice cream firms failed the tests for total plate count, yeast and moulds.
The tests also indicated that the ice cream had presence of salmonella and escherichia coli (fecal matter).
Manyindo said the standards agency had set up a task force to investigate the “substandard ice creamâ€in the market.
“We can’t say we have closed the ice cream plants or suspended them, but we have told them to stop producing as we investigate them. We don’t want to put the health of consumers at risk,†he said in an interview.
Last week, the firms’ quality assurance manager, Patrick Ssekitoleko confirmed the ice cream plants were “under probeâ€.
“We tested their products and they failed to meet our set laboratory standards. We have forwarded the results to the Dairy Development Authority (DDA) for further review,†he said.
According to lab results from the Diary Development Authority, only Fidodido Industries Limited had been cleared.
Agnes Baguma, the DDA quality and regulatory services manager, in a certificate of analysis number DDA/FDD/1/09 stated that the ice cream samples tested from Fidodido had met the micro-biological requirements.
“Those that have not submitted their samples for quality checks should do so before the law catches up with them,†Manyindo added.
Regarding the “killer waragi†brands that claimed over 40 lives, UNBS warned the public to desist from drinking the banned liquors such as Empire Waragi, African Gin, Princes Vodka, Planet Vodka and Rwenzori Gin.
Manyindo said all licences of waragi producing plants had been revoked.
“We are cleaning up the mess, that is why we cancelled their licences. Those that meet the required standards will be allowed to produce.
The statutory body is charged with ensuring that all imports and locally manufactured products meet required standard.