Dirty river water raises food safety alarm
Food traders in Dar es Salaam have been observed washing fish and vegetables in the contaminated Gide River, raising significant public health concerns. Local authorities have promised to investigate the practice, which violates food safety and hygiene regulations.
Why it matters
The use of polluted water for food preparation poses a direct threat of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid to the local population.
DAR ES SALAAM: DAR ES SALAAM residents could be exposed to serious health risks after food traders were found washing fresh fish and vegetables in the Gide River beneath the John Kijazi Interchange in Ubungo before selling them at nearby markets.
The practice was witnessed during a ‘Daily News’ roving assignment, which found traders cleaning freshly caught fish in the river before placing them in plastic basins for sale.
Nearby, other traders were also seen washing vegetables in the same water, while scores of residents used the riverbanks for washing clothes, cleaning food and carrying out other household chores.
The river, which flows beneath one of the city’s busiest interchanges, appeared murky, with waste scattered along sections of its banks as people continued to use the water for various daily activities.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in