SAZ confirms absence of cancer-causing elements in locally produced mealie- meal
GMAZ say they have routine quality management protocol
Harare- THE Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has dispelled social media reports that the mealie-meal produced locally contain cancer-causing chemicals,Express Mail Zim can report.
Some social media influencers led by Rutendo Matinyarare had submitted unsubstantiated claims that locally produced mealie-meal contain Glyphosate sending the nation in panick mode .
SAZ carried out laboratory tests for over six mealie meal brands.
Presenting the results of the tests SAZ Chemical and Food Technology Laboratory Manager Rumbidzayi Svosve revealed that mealie meal produced locally is safe from cancer-causing elements.
Addressing journalists Monday , GMAZ national chairman Tafadzwa Musarara assured the nation that local mealie meal is secure and thanked SAZ for allaying fears through tests.
“We would like to express our sincere and profound gratitude to the office of the Director General of Standard Association of Zimbabwe SAZ for facilitating this critical assignment.
“It is routine within our internal quality management protocols to test for any harmful substance in the grain that we received both from foreign and domestic markets. The results are, however, for internal consumption,said Musarara.
He said since the members commenced imports in October 2023, no harmful content of Glyphosate or any other material was dictated by their internal labs.
“Zimbabwe is arguably second to South Africa in the southern and eastern Africa region in matters of food regulation, testing and product development.
“All local millers are obtaining maize from same silos which is milled to produce the same brands that are sold nationwide in all retail shops. We are obtaining maize from silos that also supply to South African millers and export to Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia. No case of glyphosate harmful content presence has been reported in those countries,” he said.
Musarara said National Foods, Blue Ribbon and other millers whose brands were falsely accused to contain harmful Glyphosate content are members of GMAZ and his association will stand and fall with them, in defending their legal commercial activities.
