adminGovernment Analyst Laboratory deputy director for food control Mr Freddie Chinyavanhu said this while presenting oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Welfare. Mr Chinyavanhu said Government laboratories were not equipped to deal with latest inventions in the food industry, yet most of the foods ended up in the country.
“We are found wanting because we do not have technology to match food advancements,” he said.
He said Government laboratories were equipped with obsolete equipment which could not test mixed meats, a development that exposes the public to all kinds of meat.
To be certain of ingredients in mixed meats, inspectors should conduct DNA tests but the country does not have the technology to conduct them.
“At the moment there is no laboratory in this country to carry out DNA tests on mixed meats so we rely on pre-shipment tests. We do not have the capacity to test those meats to see if there is a mixture,” he said.
Donkey and water buffalo meat traces were found in South African beef products with concern being raised that the meat could have found its way into Zimbabwe. Speaking at the same occasion, deputy director for food safety and port health Mr Victor Nyamande said the department was moving to formulate regulations for monitoring food imports.
“In terms of imported foods we are trying to put in place laws to safeguard the safety of food. It is a security issue and every country should safeguard the safety of food hence our move to monitor imports,” he said. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter