UNBS tips Kabarole food processors on quality standards
FORT PORTAL – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards [UNBS] has advised processors in Fort Portal City and Kabarole district to adhere to quality standards if they want their products to be certified.
According to Barbra Kamusiime, the senior public relations officer UNBS, the quality of products on the market in some parts of the country is wanting, which she said puts the health of consumers at risk.
“We received complaints about the quality of products on the market, especially maize flour being substandard and harmful to consumers. We have realised that producers are not aware of the standards they are supposed to follow,” Kamusiime said.
She was speaking on Tuesday during an engagement with small medium enterprise owners and manufacturers in Fort Portal City.
She said the engagement with the processors was held to sensitise processors on quality standards as they produce for the market.
She advised processors to always seek help from UNBS whenever they are faced with challenges of standards.
“Each product has got its own standard and you cannot know the product’s quality without testing it. I implore you to always bring your products to UNBS for testing, get the required standard, and get certified,” she said.
She observed that most of the manufacturers/processors put their product on the market without knowing that it does not meet the standards.
She, however, said the challenge is not only with grain millers but also, with bakeries, and juice processors among others.
The Fort Portal City principal commercial officer, Micheal Karwani said the issue of the quality of products on market in Fort Portal city is a big challenge, adding that the quarterly engagements with traders and manufacturers will help to have quality products on the market.
However, maize millers faulted farmers for the poor quality of maize flour, saying the farmers supply them with poor quality grains, arising from poor post-harvest handling.
Vincent Musinguzi, one of the maize millers said they buy substandard maize grains from farmers who are not sensitised about the quality of produce they should supply to the millers.
“Farmers need quick cash, they harvest maize when it’s not ready and dry it on bare ground and in most cases supply it when it has not properly dried,” he said.
Jane Kabakama, who is also a maize miller said there is a need for UNBS to sensitise and train farmers on post-harvest handling methods and the quality of produce they should always supply to the market.
https://thecooperator.news/unbs-holds-training-for-food-and-beverage-sector/
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