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.
Mr Stephen Moses Tabingwa, a resident of Kaliro District, raised concerns about the safety of food processed using milling machines, questioning whether the machines are regularly inspected.
He also wondered if consumers are protected from possible contamination by metal particles and other harmful substances during processing.
Mr Tabingwa questioned the role of UNBS in ensuring that milling machines used to process foods such as posho and groundnuts do not introduce harmful substances into the food.
He said some millers have abandoned rubber rollers and other safer components for metal parts, which, when worn out, could release particles into the food during processing.
‘Cancer has become a big challenge in Uganda, yet we are eating foods such as posho, groundnuts and sugar. We previously used rubber rollers, but now the metals can enter the food,’ Mr Tabingwa said.
He urged UNBS to strengthen inspection and regulation of milling machines to ensure that food-processing equipment do not expose consumers to contaminants.
He said the growing cancer burden, evidenced by the need for specialised facilities such as the Uganda Cancer Institute, should prompt authorities to pay greater attention to possible sources of exposure in foods.
A visit by this publication to a groundnut mill on Kutch Road in Jinja City found poor hygiene, old processing drums and dilapidated wooden drying tables.
The milling drum also lacked a magnetic filter to trap metal fragments.
The groundnuts are manually sorted to remove stones and other foreign materials before being ground, with the paste later spread on wooden platforms to cool. Small-scale retailers buy the product and repackage it in small white polythene bags for consumers.
The packed groundnut paste, commonly sold to consumers for home use has no labels, including the required Q-Mark and expiry dates.
At Kazimingi in Jinja City, a hub known for posho milling, the situation has changed following intervention by UNBS. Mr Charles Mugoya, a miller in the area, said the machines now have measures to prevent metal contaminants from getting into the flour.
He said millers previously processed posho without magnetic devices to trap metal particles, exposing consumers to contamination.
‘Previously, we milled posho without magnets to trap metal or steel particles. But that changed after UNBS inspected our operations, closing mills that lacked the magnets,’ Mr Mugoya said.
Mr Bashir Mawa, the logistics manager at Kakira Sugar Works in Jinja, said the company follows international food safety standards throughout its manufacturing processes.
‘We have standards, including international standards, that we follow when it comes to food safety. UNBS assessed our processes to ensure that there are measures to prevent metal contaminants from getting into the sugar,’ he said.
Mr Mawa added that the manufacturing process includes metal-detection systems that identify and remove metallic contaminants, making it unlikely for such materials to end up in the finished product.
‘However, some of the new manufacturers have not approached UNBS to monitor their manufacturing processes and check whether they have the necessary metal detectors,’ he said.
Mr Gastone Kironde, the principal inspector for national inspection at UNBS, said manufacturers are also required to regularly validate the performance of their magnetic metal-trapping systems to ensure they are working effectively.
‘You must put nails through the system and check whether they are trapped. This helps us establish the efficiency of the magnetic mechanism in doing its work,’ he said.
Mr Kironde added that manufacturers must employ quality-control personnel to monitor production and ensure that the products meet Uganda standards.
‘We conduct routine market surveillance by sampling certified products to check for iron and other contaminants. Should we find iron or other contaminants, we go to the factory and take action, including closing it where necessary,’ he said.
Mr Kironde urged manufacturers and millers to comply with safety standards for the safety of consumers.
That said, consumers also have a role to play by buying properly packaged and certified food products and reporting suspected violations to UNBS.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognises metal fragments from worn or damaged processing equipment as a food-safety hazard and recommends regular inspection and appropriate metal detection or separation measures to prevent contamination.
Q-MARK AWARDING
Mr Gastone Kironde, the principal inspector for national inspection at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), said manufacturers seeking the bureau’s quality mark (Q-Mark) must have mechanisms in place to prevent iron and other metal contaminants from getting into food products during processing.