The Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has expressed concern with the low participation of food establishments in the Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) training, cautioning that poor food handling poses a risk to public health.
ZABS Standards Development and Training Manager Stephen Mazimba, emphasized the need for food businesses to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement food safety systems to ensure food safety hazards are identified and control measures implemented.
Mr. Mazimba reiterated the Bureau’s commitment to promoting training in both local and international food safety standards stating that equipping food businesses with this knowledge is the most effective way to minimize potential risks to public health and safety.
He further stated that the trainings would help enhance the credibility and competitiveness of businesses in the food industry.
“ZABS is concerned with the low uptake of Good Hygiene Practices and generally food safety training by businesses in the food industry, whether small or large and the Bureau will intensify engagements with food businesses to emphasize the importance of implementing food safety management systems to address the existing gap,” said Mr. Mazimba in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today by ZABS Senior Marketing and Communications Officer, Nzali Chella.
He however commended the few companies that have come through to seek various training interventions and have also taken a step further to implement some of the practices.
By Angel Kasabo
