By Christer Kalukusha
The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) has revoked certificates of various food business operators across the country, on issues to do with hygiene and safety.
In a press release, released today, MBS has revoked the certification and suspended operation of Suhanna Continental Bakery (Bread and Buns), Sana Superstore-North End mall, Mzuzu (Bread, Buns, Confectioneries & Meat Handling); Midland Fast Food (Catering Services); Macdeema Cash N’ Carry, Mzuzu (Butchery); Perekezi Enterprises (Honey and Coffee), Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union Ltd (Ground Coffee); Emmaculate Lodge, Mzuzu (Catering Services); Our Daily Bread Bakery (Bread & Buns); Chipiku Stores-Game Complex,Lilongwe, (Catering services, Meat Handling, Bread and Buns) and Korea Gardens, Lilongwe (Catering Services), due to non-compliance with relevant Malawi standards
.According to MBS Director General, Dr. Benard Thole, it is their mandate to ensure that Malawians are served with food products that are of quality and good standards hence the suspension of operators that failed to comply to such conditions.
“The aforementioned operators were found operating below the minimum requirements of the Malawi Standard (MS) 21:2002: Food and Food processing units-code of hygiene conditions, exposing the products and or services to significant food risk. In the interest of public health safety and in line with provision of Malawi Bureau of Standards Act (Cap 51:02) sections 34 (1) and 39 (1), the MBS hereby exercises its mandate to withdraw certification and or issue suspension order to these business operators”, he said.
He has therefore advised the general public to refrain from patronising the services (catering and meat handling) and buying or consuming products from these facilities until all the shortfalls are addressed and suspension is lifted.
