TFDA: Dairy products are contaminated by melamine

[BAK]

TFDA: Dairy products are contaminated by melamine
PIUS RUGONZIBWA
Daily News; Thursday,November 13, 2008 @21:15

Three out of nine samples tested to detect melamine in dairy products about a month ago, tested positive with 7.1 mg of melamine found in every one kilogramme of the tested sample. Normal allowable amount of melamine in the packaging materials is 2.5 mg per kilogramme and if digested by human being it usually causes renal failure especially in infants and children.

The Tanzania Food and Drug Regulatory Authority (TFDA) yesterday announced the results of the laboratory tests following the importation of the milk products from China that were suspected to be contaminated with the deadly chemical, melamine. In September 2008, TFDA impounded about 43.89 tonnes of milk products in various selling points in Dar es Salaam that were imported from China, banned others from being imported and thereafter sent samples to South Africa for testing.

The TFDA Acting Director General, Ms Charys Ugullum, told reporters that lab test results revealed that 33.9 tonnes of milk products were discovered with melamine contaminations and that it was mainly found in the products called Golden Bell Full Cream Milk Powder. Ms Ugullum added that importers of the products had been notified of the results and legal measures would be taken against them according to the TFDA Drug and Cosmetics Act number 1 of 2003.

However, she defended the importer on grounds that she/he was a victim of circumstances. "Learning from this experience, from now on the Authority will carry out inspection and verification exercises to impound all dairy products sold without labels, and we also caution consumers to be alert with such products and inform us accordingly," she said. She added that TFDA already procured special laboratory equipment worth 5.6m/- instead of taking samples to South Africa.

Ms Ugullum said already local testing had started whereby samples of products with raw materials of milk like biscuits, sweets, cakes, would be tested to examine their safety. She said so far, no further information has reached the Authority on the possible death of people who were affected by the contaminated milk, adding that the authority would continue gathering information countrywide on the matter. "This will include visiting hospitals and obtain information from medical personnel on any diagnosis in connection with the chemicals," she pointed out.

The Acting DG further said from now onwards, TFDA would be communicating with international bodies and networks on early warnings including thorough verifications of the products at all borders and entry points. The sample testing costs in South African laboratories cost more than 6,300 Rands (about 693,000/-). Manufacturers in China add some percentage of melamine in the products in a cheating exercise aiming at showing that products are richer in proteins; in turn they turn up to be hazardous and deadly.

 

[kkiwango]

Why should we import milk from China at first place??? don't we have enough cows to produce milk for local consumption?

 

[Zogwale]

TFDA: Dairy products are contaminated by melamine
PIUS RUGONZIBWA
Daily News; Thursday,November 13, 2008 @21:15

Three out of nine samples tested to detect melamine in dairy products about a month ago, tested positive with 7.1 mg of melamine found in every one kilogramme of the tested sample. Normal allowable amount of melamine in the packaging materials is 2.5 mg per kilogramme and if digested by human being it usually causes renal failure especially in infants and children.

The Tanzania Food and Drug Regulatory Authority (TFDA) yesterday announced the results of the laboratory tests following the importation of the milk products from China that were suspected to be contaminated with the deadly chemical, melamine. In September 2008, TFDA impounded about 43.89 tonnes of milk products in various selling points in Dar es Salaam that were imported from China, banned others from being imported and thereafter sent samples to South Africa for testing.

The TFDA Acting Director General, Ms Charys Ugullum, told reporters that lab test results revealed that 33.9 tonnes of milk products were discovered with melamine contaminations and that it was mainly found in the products called Golden Bell Full Cream Milk Powder. Ms Ugullum added that importers of the products had been notified of the results and legal measures would be taken against them according to the TFDA Drug and Cosmetics Act number 1 of 2003.

However, she defended the importer on grounds that she/he was a victim of circumstances. “Learning from this experience, from now on the Authority will carry out inspection and verification exercises to impound all dairy products sold without labels, and we also caution consumers to be alert with such products and inform us accordingly,” she said. She added that TFDA already procured special laboratory equipment worth 5.6m/- instead of taking samples to South Africa.

Ms Ugullum said already local testing had started whereby samples of products with raw materials of milk like biscuits, sweets, cakes, would be tested to examine their safety. She said so far, no further information has reached the Authority on the possible death of people who were affected by the contaminated milk, adding that the authority would continue gathering information countrywide on the matter. “This will include visiting hospitals and obtain information from medical personnel on any diagnosis in connection with the chemicals,” she pointed out.

The Acting DG further said from now onwards, TFDA would be communicating with international bodies and networks on early warnings including thorough verifications of the products at all borders and entry points. The sample testing costs in South African laboratories cost more than 6,300 Rands (about 693,000/-). Manufacturers in China add some percentage of melamine in the products in a cheating exercise aiming at showing that products are richer in proteins; in turn they turn up to be hazardous and deadly.

I am shocked with the news. Sasa tutawapa wototo wetu maziwa gani kwa wale ambao mazingira yanawafanya wawaache watoto kwenda kazini na kurudi jioni? Vipi jamani na yale ya Lactogen hasa ya Kenya, halafu kuna nyingine wanapaki kule msasani sijui kwa usafi upi na kama kweli ni ya Tazania, India au ni yale yanayouzwa kwenye mifuko wanapaki tu kwenye tins? Na yale ya zimbabwe yako vipi ubora wake. Jamani wazazi wengi wanatumia Lactogen kwa Tanzania ni wachache wana uwezo wa kununua S26 na products zake zote as per the age of the baby/child.

Ninaomba sana mwenye taarifa zozote za maziwa ya Lactogen (problems) watupostie. Madaktari mliopo humu angalieni zile ingredients za Lactogen then mtushauri. Please, wajukuu zangu wasijepoteza uhai au kupata a permenent problem. Asanteni sana.

 

[Mama]

I am shocked with the news. Sasa tutawapa wototo wetu maziwa gani kwa wale ambao mazingira yanawafanya wawaache watoto kwenda kazini na kurudi jioni? Vipi jamani na yale ya Lactogen hasa ya Kenya, halafu kuna nyingine wanapaki kule msasani sijui kwa usafi upi na kama kweli ni ya Tazania, India au ni yale yanayouzwa kwenye mifuko wanapaki tu kwenye tins? Na yale ya zimbabwe yako vipi ubora wake. Jamani wazazi wengi wanatumia Lactogen kwa Tanzania ni wachache wana uwezo wa kununua S26 na products zake zote as per the age of the baby/child.

Ninaomba sana mwenye taarifa zozote za maziwa ya Lactogen (problems) watupostie. Madaktari mliopo humu angalieni zile ingredients za Lactogen then mtushauri. Please, wajukuu zangu wasijepoteza uhai au kupata a permenent problem. Asanteni sana.

sio kuangalia ingredients tu, inatakiwa chemical tests. TBS kazi yao nini? ninaamini wanatest food products kabla hazijaingia sokoni.

 

[Idimi]

Nashangaa kwamba sampuli za maziwa zilipelekwa Afrika Kusini kwa ajili ya ukaguzi, hivi ina maana hapa Tanzania hatuna maabara za kuweza kufanya utatifi wa maziwa tunayotumia? Ina maana na maziwa yanayozalishwa hapa Tanzania yanapelekwa Afrika kusini kwa ajili ya kuthibitishwa ubora wake? Ina maana wale TBS pale Ubungo hawana maabara za kupimia ubora wa maziwa? Na TDFA je hawana maabara hizi kweli?
Naomba ufafanuzi tafadhali, kwa mwenye uelewa wa masuala haya!

 

[Mama]

Nashangaa kwamba sampuli za maziwa zilipelekwa Afrika Kusini kwa ajili ya ukaguzi,

this is news to me!

 

[Idimi]

this is news to me!

Please believe it, ndivyo alivyosikika akisema yule Mtaalamu wa TFDA jana ktk Tv. Soma pia habari hii ktk post mama hapo juu

 

[Mama]

Sasa hao TFDA kazi yao nini hasa, ulaji sio. Nadhani kwamnza kabisa ni kuia hiyo the so called TFDA. Pili kwa ufahamu wangu hata kama TBS hawana maabara ya kuweza kufanya hizo analysis, na kule kwa mkemia mkuu wa serikali pia hawana?

Please believe it, ndivyo alivyosikika akisema yule Mtaalamu wa TFDA jana ktk Tv. Soma pia habari hii ktk post mama hapo juu

 

[Bongolander]

sio kuangalia ingredients tu, inatakiwa chemical tests. TBS kazi yao nini? ninaamini wanatest food products kabla hazijaingia sokoni.

Uzuri ni kuwa umesema unaamini, lakini ukweli ni kwamba they never do their job. Naona ni jambo la busara sana kwa serikali kuamua kwenda kufanya vipimo Afrika Kusini, lakini kuna bidhaa nyingi tu zinaingia sokoni bila kukaguliwa ubora, na kuna vitu vingi tu vyenye nembo za TBS zina ubora hafifu.
lakini member mmoja ameuliza swali zuri sana, why should we import maziwa from China? can't we make our own milk really? why can we import from Kenya or South Africa for that matter ambako hakuna cases za ajabuajabu.
Na vipimo hivyo vinakuja wakati maziwa hayo yamecirculate sana na kusababisha madhara else where, ni vizuri kama serikali ikiwa makini zaidi. Naipongeza hatua ya kutangaza majibu ya hadharani.

 

[BAK]

13.11.2008 @22:06 EAT

Trader to face court over 34 tonnes of tainted milk impounded in Dar

By Deogratias Kishombo
THE CITIZEN

The trader who imported the Chinese milk that has tested positive for a dangerous chemical is to be prosecuted, it was announced yesterday.

It also emerged that up to 34 tonnes of contaminated milk were impounded from the trader whose identity was not revealed during a media briefing in Dar es Salaam to announce results of tests conducted in South Africa.

The Citizen exclusively reported on Wednesday that the industrial chemical melamine was discovered in abnormally high quantities in some samples of milk the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) impounded in September.

TFDA deputy director general Charisy Ugullum said legal action would be taken against the trader in accordance with the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 2003.

"The authority has already sent him official notification and legal action will follow soon," Ms Ugullum said, adding that the contaminated milk powder was labelled "Goldenbell Full Cream Milk" and packed in 12.5kg bags, one of which was shown to reporters.

She said three samples of the milk had an abnormally high level of 7.1mg of melamine per kilogramme. Acceptable levels of the chemical in many countries, including the US and several EU states, were less than 2.5mg/kg, added Ms Ugullum.

She refused to reveal the identity of the trader despite being pressed to do so by journalists, saying naming the suspect before appearing in court could have serious legal implications.

"It should be noted that the trader trades in many products and not all of them are contaminated with melamine. Naming the suspect could kill the business and put the authority in deep trouble," Ms Ugullum said.

Earlier, the deputy director of food safety, Mr Raymond Wigenge, warned the public against consuming unlabelled food products, particularly milk.

"For the sake of staying healthy, the public has to make sure that they consume labelled products only as they will be sure of what they are consuming," he said.

Mr Wigenge said the authority would mount a countrywide crackdown on imported food products that were not labelled and test them to determine if they were fit for human consumption.

Tanzania is among countries that reacted quickly to an alert issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after thousands of babies fell ill after consuming contaminated milk and milk products in China earlier this year.

Tanzania has also suspended the issuing of import licences for milk products until investigations are concluded.

Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone have also slapped bans on milk imports from China.

The scandal surfaced on July 16 after dozens of babies that had been fed on milk powder produced by the Shijiazhuang-based Sanlu Group were diagnosed with kidney stones.

According to scientific journals, melamine is a hard synthetic substance better known for its fire resistant properties.

The nitrogen-rich molecule is sometimes illegally added to food products in order to increase their protein content.

It has also been employed as a non-protein nitrogen, appearing in soy meal, corn gluten meal and cottonseed meal used in cattle feed.

Melamine is known to cause renal and urinary problems in humans and animals when it reacts with cyanuric acid inside the body.

It is sometimes present in drinking water and in animal feed, so its use in food production is universally forbidden.

A number of arrests were made following the scandal in China. The head of Sanlu, seven local government officials, as well as the director of the administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine were sacked or forced to resign over the scandal.

The WHO described the Chinese milk saga as one of the largest food safety concerns it has had to deal with in recent years.

In late October, it was discovered that the problem had spread to eggs in China.

 

[Mama]

Bongolander, naweza kujua ni kwa sababu gani hawafanyi kazi zao?

Uzuri ni kuwa umesema unaamini, lakini ukweli ni kwamba they never do their job. Naona ni jambo la busara sana kwa serikali kuamua kwenda kufanya vipimo Afrika Kusini, lakini kuna bidhaa nyingi tu zinaingia sokoni bila kukaguliwa ubora, na kuna vitu vingi tu vyenye nembo za TBS zina ubora hafifu.
lakini member mmoja ameuliza swali zuri sana, why should we import maziwa from China? can't we make our own milk really? why can we import from Kenya or South Africa for that matter ambako hakuna cases za ajabuajabu.
Na vipimo hivyo vinakuja wakati maziwa hayo yamecirculate sana na kusababisha madhara else where, ni vizuri kama serikali ikiwa makini zaidi. Naipongeza hatua ya kutangaza majibu ya hadharani.

 

[Idimi]

Sasa hao TFDA kazi yao nini hasa, ulaji sio. Nadhani kwamnza kabisa ni kuia hiyo the so called TFDA. Pili kwa ufahamu wangu hata kama TBS hawana maabara ya kuweza kufanya hizo analysis, na kule kwa mkemia mkuu wa serikali pia hawana?

Wahuni hawa, kule kwa mkemia mkuu wa serikali ama TBS lazima wana maabara za kupimia maziwa na mazagazaga mengine kibao tu, huenda wanapeleka sampuli Afrika Kusini ili wajilipe DSA, hii ni TANZANIA, lolote linawezekana! Mama naomba uamini hili, hata kama una mashaka. Kwani hujaona madaktari wa Muhimbili wakiwasafirisha wagonjwa wa moyo kwenda kutibiwa India wakati Dr Masau anatibu ugonjwa huo huo na wagonjwa wanapona pale Mikocheni?

why can we import from Kenya or South Africa

We do import Sir!
Ukienda madukani kuna mpaka bamia na matango ya Afrika Kusini, achilia mbali maziwa, hasa kwenye maduka yao ya Shoprite.
There is something wrong with our system! No more explanation on that!

 

[Mama]

Wahuni hawa, kule kwa mkemia mkuu wa serikali ama TBS lazima wana maabara za kupimia maziwa na mazagazaga mengine kibao tu, huenda wanapeleka sampuli Afrika Kusini ili wajilipe DSA, hii ni TANZANIA, lolote linawezekana! Mama naomba uamini hili, hata kama una mashaka. Kwani hujaona madaktari wa Muhimbili wakiwasafirisha wagonjwa wa moyo kwenda kutibiwa India wakati Dr Masau anatibu ugonjwa huo huo na wagonjwa wanapona pale Mikocheni?


We do import Sir!
Ukienda madukani kuna mpaka bamia na matango ya Afrika Kusini, achilia mbali maziwa, hasa kwenye maduka yao ya Shoprite.
There is something wrong with our system! No more explanation on that!

Jamani, kwa mtaji huu hatutaendelea hata tubadilishe marais mia. Tufanye nini jamani, tatizo liko kwetu walaji. Usipokula mavitu haya nyumbani kwako utakula kwa jirani, kwenye sherehe, kwenye restaurant na mama ntilie!