Posted on March, 16, 2017 at 11:12 am
THE Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) has ordered traders in Dar es Salaam to stop distributing over 9,000 sacks of imported rice which is being tested for edibility.
TFDA spokesperson Gaudensia Semwanza told The Guardian yesterday that the rice impounded in three different warehouses within the commercial capital was reportedly brought in from Pakistan.
According to Semwanza, TFDA officials believe the rice packed in 9,048 sacks may be unfit for human consumption, calling for a halt to its sale on the local market.
“The consignment entered the country some three years ago, but has apparently been re-packaged,” she said.
She added that samples of the staple food have been taken for testing in the TFDA laboratory, and warned people who might be tempted to make quick money out of it not to try it, saying state officials were on the lookout.
“We are treating this matter seriously and cautiously because it involves a massive capital investment by the importers on the one hand, and the lives of consumers on the other,” Semwanza remarked.
She described this stance as a delicate balancing act because the government doesn’t want the importers to incur a loss, which is why the product can’t be condemned until laboratory tests results prove any suspicions.
The life and safety of consumers always comes first, and under no circumstances should the rice – if found to be inedible - be allowed to find its way into the kitchens of the wananchi, Semwanza said.
The TFDA decision comes as unconfirmed reports indicate that one of the consignment importers is currently being held by the police for questioning purposes.
Apart from the suspect quality of the rice, another bone of contention in the saga appears to be the documentation that allowed its entry into the country, which the importers have not shown so far.
Source: IPP Media