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12th October , 2023 , Hits: 904
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is calling upon all schools milling own flour to seek UNBS certification, as one of the ways to intensify food safety efforts in schools. This is in line with the UNBS mandate of enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products.
The call was made during a sensitisation workshop of all school owners and administrators in Mbale district, organised by UNBS with support from USAID Feed The Future IAM project.
“All schools milling their own flour should ensure that they are certified by UNBS. In addition to stop packing your flour in ‘Super’ sacks. Please ensure that your flour is packed in your own original packaging, well labelled with Manufacturers names, contact details, addresses, net weight, date of manufacture, expiry or best before date.” Said Mr. Denis Odur, a Surveillance Officer at UNBS.
Mr. Odur also urged school owners and administrators who procure maize flour and scholastic materials to buy from UNBS certified suppliers.
“Once you have procured from certified suppliers, ensure that the storage facilities are regularly cleaned and rodent proof because food can get contaminated during storage. Ensure that fumigation of the stores is done by professional fumigation companies.” Mr. Odur added.
The UNBS Senior Certification Officer, Mr. Joseph Lutaaya, urged schools to ensure good personal hygiene practices for food handlers, proper waste management and proper pest control, among other practices.
“Ensure that food handlers/ cooks are medically examined for medical fitness to handle food, ensure food handlers wear personal protective wear to avoid contaminating food, ensure that the maize flour is stored on pallets to avoid contamination from damp floors and ensure that safe water is used to prepare food.” Mr. Lutaaya said. .
He further urged the school administrators to be keen while procuring food from suppliers and look out for;
“As school owners and administrators, you have the power to promote quality products in schools by ensuring that products procured for use in schools, goods procured for sale in school canteens and those brought by parents or students, meet the standards .” Said Sylvia Kirabo, the Head of Public Relations and Marketing at UNBS.
The stakeholders were grateful to UNBS for the eye opening sensitisation and pledged to practice what they have learnt, to ensure food safety in schools.
“I shall check the medical status of my cooks. I have not been doing that. I shall purchase uniforms for them, I shall put in place standard stores as you have taught us, I shall do the needful to establish or rubbish pits, washrooms and endeavour to construct incinerators for ladies’ waste disposal.” said Mudondo Annet a Head Teacher from Budaka district.
About UNBS
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a Government Agency responsible for developing, promoting and enforcing of national standards in the protection of Public Health and Safety, and the Environment against harmful and sub-standard products.
For more information, please contact:
Sylvia Kirabo,
Principal Public Relations Officer,
Uganda National Bureau of Standards,
Bweyogerere Industrial Park,
Plot 2 - 12, Kyaliwajala Road,
P.O Box 6329 Kampala, Uganda.
Mobile Tel: 0703196903
Office Tel: 256 417 333250/ Toll Free Line: 0800133133/0800233233
E-mail: sylvia.kirabo@unbs.go.ug / info@unbs.go.ug
Website: www.unbs.go.ug