Cracks Down on Unsafe Food

ZCSA says “We Will Not Allow Zambians to Be Poisoned for Profit”

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 (7 June 2025) - The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has sounded the alarm over the continued presence of unsafe and substandard food products on the market, vowing to take firm action against traders and manufacturers in a habit of putting profit before public health.

In a statement released on its official Facebook page to commemorate World Food Safety Day, observed under the theme “Food Safety – Science in Action”, the agency stressed that no economic gain justifies endangering Zambian lives.

“Unsafe food can cause severe illness, permanent injury or even death, particularly among vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems,” the agency said.

ZCSA reminded the public and all industry players that no food or beverage covered under compulsory standards should be placed on the market without approval.

Products such as peanut butter, mealie meal, biscuits, edible oils, wheat flour, bottled water, beer, spirits, and fruit-flavoured drinks must undergo rigorous scientific assessments to confirm compliance with health and safety standards.

The agency warned that any food product failing to meet these standards will be seized, reworked, or destroyed, in line with Section 16(4)(b) of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017.

“Anyone placing illegal or substandard goods on the market is committing a crime—and endangering lives,” the statement read.

Despite routine inspections, some traders and suppliers continue to smuggle unsafe food onto the market.

ZCSA has declared zero tolerance for such acts, pledging to protect consumers from being “poisoned for profit.”

The agency’s compliance mechanisms include pre-market evaluations—such as factory audits, document reviews, and lab tests—and post-market surveillance, where products already in stores are sampled for further testing.

Consumers were urged to protect themselves by only buying products from regulated sources and carefully reading food labels.

A proper label must clearly show the product name, full list of ingredients and quantities, net weight, manufacturer’s name and address, country of origin, production and expiry dates, storage instructions, and directions for use—all written in English.

“Labels are not decoration—they are your first line of defense against fake or dangerous food. If the label is unclear, incomplete or missing, don’t buy it,” ZCSA warned.

Consumers can report any suspicious or counterfeit food products through the ZCSA website, Facebook page, or via email at info@zcsa.org. Reports can also be made by calling +260 774 858 258 or +260 211 224 900, or by visiting any ZCSA provincial office or border post.

Reaffirming its mandate, the agency said food safety is not a luxury but a basic human right, and it would act decisively to uphold this right for all Zambians.