Happy Lazaro
4 October 2008
Arusha — The Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) in the northern zone has embarked on a vigorous exercise to inspect wholesale shops supermarkets and other food outlets to see whether a deadly Chinese milk formula is in stock.
A baby milk formula produced in China and exported worldwide is reported to have killed several babies in China and at least six thousand are suffering from kidney stones which has led to acute kidney failure in many of the sick children.
As of Monday this week TFDA and health inspectors had checked 39 shops and supermarkets in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Tanga regions but despite the widespread fear that the contaminated milk could have already entered the country, no milk or its products were found in local outlets.
In an interview with the Arusha Times, the northern zone TFDA inspector, Juma Bukuku said so far it was not clear which company produced the contaminated milk and how the product is labeled.
He said traders should be on high alert on imported milk and milk products. What the inspector has so far found out is that not many traders were aware of the Chinese contaminated milk scandal.
Informed sources indicate that originally only the San Lu brand was thought to be contaminated, but it has since transpired that 20 other brands have been tested positive for toxin melamine.
Melamine is a chemical used in the manufacture of durable household products like plastic dinnerware and cutlery. Suppliers - be it the farmers or the dairies - are suspected of diluting milk to cut costs, then adding melamine to make it appear higher in protein. More protein means more money.
The Chinese government believes that unscrupulous dealers adulterated their diluted milk with the chemical to fool quality checks.
Several Asian countries have announced partial bans on the sale of Chinese dairy products, or food made with Chinese milk. But it is feared that products will end up in African countries where control measures rarely exist or can be flouted with relish.
According to medical experts melamine can form stones, and presumably that's what's has happened to the children. Consumers of melamine contaminated food products develop stones in their kidneys which block the flow of urine and thus causing kidneys not to function properly.
The World Health Organisation has called on the Chinese authorities to explain how the scandal was allowed to develop.
Locally, TFDA is continuing with inspection to make sure that the contaminated Chinese milk products do not enter into the country but Mr. Bukuku expressed concern that they could be smuggled in through the unofficial "panya" routes on the country's borders.
Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA), is a regulatory body, established under the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act 2003 and is responsible for controlling the quality, safety and effectiveness of food, drugs, herbal drugs, cosmetics and medical devices.
It regulates importation, manufacturing, labelling, distribution, storage, promotion and sale of food, drugs among others.
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