TFDA destroys 961m/- worth of foods, drugs, cosmetics

Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) has destroyed at least 313.4 tonnes of foods, drugs and cosmetics worth over 961m/- during 2013/14.
TFDA’s Communication Officer, Gaudensia Simwanza, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam on Monday that the products were poisonous, expired or unfit for human consumption.


She said TFDA took samples of drugs, foods and cosmetics to their labs and 97 per cent of commodities proved safe.

“This shows that most of the foods, drugs and cosmetics in the market are safe and fit for human consumption,” she said.

Despite such assurance, TFDA received a total of 16,916 cases of people affected by the usage of unsafe foods during the same period in question.
She said that 88 per cent of such cases are from Dodoma Region, Singida 8 per cent and Manyara 4 per cent.

Up to 124 tonnes of substandard and expired foodstuff, drugs and cosmetics estimated at 256m/- were seized and destroyed in the Central Zone regions alone between July last year and June this year.

 The figures were made public in September by TFDA Central Zone Inspector Engliber Bilashoboka during another exercise to destroy yet another seized consignment of banned goods in Kigoma Region.

 “We will continue with our searches and any outlet found responsible of bringing these banned products to the market will be shut down,” he warned.
Bilashoboka revealed that the goods were seized in various retail stores in Kigoma, Tabora, Singida and Dodoma and that most of the goods had expired.
The TFDA officer reported that at that event alone, a total of 4.1 tonnes of substandard foodstuff, drugs and cosmetics worth 24m/- have been destroyed.
“These products pose serious health threats to the public and we will be vigilant,” he said.

 “We closed down a bakery last week because they were operating under extremely unhygienic conditions…posing serious health threats to the public,” he added.

Acting Kigoma Ujiji Municipal Director Moses Welansari called on consumers to be vigilant and inspect the items they buy and to also report any outlet that sells substandard or expired goods for the authority to take action.

  Welansari said unless wananchi volunteer information about the substandard and expired goods…it is very difficult for the agency to identify them in time.
“We call on the public to report any suspicious sellers…we must work together to protect our community from these unscrupulous traders,” he urged.