Concern over quality of food from Jinja mills
Ugandan consumers and officials are raising concerns about the safety of food processed by local milling machines, specifically regarding metal contamination from worn-out parts. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards is being urged to increase inspections to prevent potential health risks, including cancer.
Why it matters
This highlights critical public health and regulatory challenges in developing food processing sectors where equipment maintenance is inconsistent.
Every day, Ugandans use milling machines to grind maize, groundnuts, among other edible seeds and grain, trusting that the flour and paste that come out of the machines are safe for consumption.
But hidden in some of these products could be tiny particles shed by poorly maintained or worn-out milling machines.
As the machines grind, their metal parts wear out, potentially releasing particles that mix with the food being processed. The particles are often too small to see, raising concerns about the long-term health effects of repeated exposure to contaminated foods.
During a sensitisation meeting organised by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) on ePortal services for importers, clearing agents, traders and other business operators, consumers asked officials about the safety of grain products such as groundnuts, posho and sugar on the market.
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