In observing the statement made by Zambeef in the Daily Mail Newspaper on Saturday, 20th July, 2013, consent has been given about the presence of harmful foreign matter in products from Zambeef. According to the Minister of Health, Dr Joseph Kasonde, Formaldehyde is not listed among the preservatives in the Food and Drugs Act due to its harmful nature. It is the view of CUTS International Lusaka that Consumer safety remains the paramount priority for all stakeholders.
“Following receipt of tests commissioned by the government, the Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr Joseph Kasonde, MP (the “Minister”), yesterday stated that the tests indicated the presence of formaldehyde in samples of Zambeef’s imported beef products and that the Ministry of Health is working on establishing the point of contamination”, reads the Zambeef statement.
The statement continued to state that, “The Board takes food safety issues extremely seriously and Zambeef will never knowingly offer for sale any products which could be hazardous to the health of its customers. As a consequence, the Company will be undertaking a comprehensive review of internal food transport, handling and storage procedures as well as conducting extensive investigative dialogue with officials from the importing countries. It will also continue to cooperate with the government and relevant authorities to identify the level and potential source of any contamination”.
Zambeef has also mentioned their current stance of working with the ministry of health to determine the points of contamination of these products – which confirms consent to the fact that the products in question are questionable. Given that it has taken laboratory tests from both local and international sources to make Zambeef realise that its system is moot, it will be difficult to trust its system.
Sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures have been used as a yardstick to justify and guarantee the safety of the products being supplied from international sources. It is also important to understand that SPS regulations that are meant to ensure public safety standards in international trade have over the years been breached with recent examples of horsemeat found in beef products in some countries in Europe. Thus, CUTS contends that rigorous testing, laboratory screening and handling is required of all such fresh products regardless of their source.