The Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency (ZCSA) has assured all consumers and trading outlets that all the Mealie Meal brands currently being supplied on the market are safe for human consumption.
ZCSA, which is responsible for regulating the production and supply of Mealie Meal, has urged the public not to panic over recent public concerns regarding the safety of Mealie Meal as there are effective food safety and quality control systems to protect consumers.
Agency Executive Director, Gerald Chizinga, has told RCV News in a statement that the Agency working with other state institutions, has implemented adequate measures to safeguard the health and safety of consumers following the detection of elevated aflatoxin levels in some batches of Mealie Meal and dog food.
Mr. Chizinga said the affected batches of Mealie Meal which were identified and withdrawn from the market and factories have since been destroyed in line with Section 16(4)(b) of the Compulsory Standards Act.
He emphasized that the issue of non-compliance on the levels of aflatoxins was specific to the identified Mealie Meal batches referred to.
Mr. Chizinga has further advised consumers that all brands currently on the market have been certified safe including brands that had the affected batches withdrawn from the market and destroyed.
By Margaret Mwanza
