Namibia Dairies speaks out on food safety and control China’s tainted milk triggers food crisis

N amibia Dairies said the ongoing milk scandal in China where milk tainted with chemicals has triggered a food safety crisis in that country and beyond, illustrates the disastrous effect of a lack of quality standards, independent inspections, and non-enforcement of food and safety regulations.

Managing Director of Namibia Dairies Hugh Froggatt said quality systems and procedures are there for an important reason, namely to protect consumers’ health. Froggatt’s reaction follows the much-reported scandal that Chinese milk products are contaminated with the chemical melamine.He explained in a statement issued on Tuesday that Namibia benefited from tighter regulations and a state of order in its dairy industry.Froggatt noted that within this environment, Namibia Dairies had achieved world-class quality standards as confirmed by the international quality management system ISO 9001:2000, and an effective food safety management programme based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points principles.Recently the company achieved the highest rating during an independent audit conducted by the Southern Africa Food Safety Inspections Service.”Namibia Dairies is a seal of quality.All products bearing our name are produced according to stringent and reliable quality systems and procedures, meaning they are healthy, safe and meet world-class standards,” maintained Froggatt.He said Namibia Dairies holds a tight grip on product quality and food safety controls along its value chain, referring to the process of transforming raw milk into finished products that are delivered to the consumers.This control includes setting quality standards and specifications against which the quality of all raw milk supplied to Namibia Dairies is measured.Currently, the company has 17 independent, local producers of raw milk.Said Froggatt: “These suppliers have all signed affidavits to attest that their milk is free of growth hormone and chemical additives.”He said quality is not negotiable and that suppliers will not be able to supply Namibia Dairies if quality and specifications are found deviant to set quality standards.NampaFroggatt’s reaction follows the much-reported scandal that Chinese milk products are contaminated with the chemical melamine.He explained in a statement issued on Tuesday that Namibia benefited from tighter regulations and a state of order in its dairy industry.Froggatt noted that within this environment, Namibia Dairies had achieved world-class quality standards as confirmed by the international quality management system ISO 9001:2000, and an effective food safety management programme based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points principles.Recently the company achieved the highest rating during an independent audit conducted by the Southern Africa Food Safety Inspections Service.”Namibia Dairies is a seal of quality.All products bearing our name are produced according to stringent and reliable quality systems and procedures, meaning they are healthy, safe and meet world-class standards,” maintained Froggatt.He said Namibia Dairies holds a tight grip on product quality and food safety controls along its value chain, referring to the process of transforming raw milk into finished products that are delivered to the consumers.This control includes setting quality standards and specifications against which the quality of all raw milk supplied to Namibia Dairies is measured.Currently, the company has 17 independent, local producers of raw milk.Said Froggatt: “These suppliers have all signed affidavits to attest that their milk is free of growth hormone and chemical additives.”He said quality is not negotiable and that suppliers will not be able to supply Namibia Dairies if quality and specifications are found deviant to set quality standards.Nampa