Uganda National Bureau of Standards directed to withdraw quality mark on energy drinks
The Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry has directed Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to withdraw their distinctive marks on all the energy drinks which have violated standards.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mwine Mpaka gave the regulatory body seven days to take punitive action on the companies making the drinks and report back to the committee on the progress. This comes after the National Drug Authority (NDA) Executive Director, David Nahamya on Wednesday, 16 March 2022 presented to the committee findings of test samples on some carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks to ascertain caffeine and adulteration levels.
According to the findings, four of the non-alcoholic drinks sampled in the market contained alcohol. These include, Kituzi (1.1 per cent), Power bank (4.4 per cent), Sabarara extra (10.3 per cent) and Entare sana (6 per cent). Similarly, some alcoholic kombuchas like Kabody coffee had 20 per cent alcohol levels which exceeds the recommended 15 per cent for alcoholic kombuchas.
“It is very dangerous to take a non-alcoholic drink thinking it doesn’t contain alcohol whereas it does. Imagine, our children, pregnant mothers, pastors, Muslims and other non-alcoholic persons have been consuming these products,” Mpaka said.
Whereas none of the 23 products sampled was found to be adulterated with inhibitors known to treat erectile dysfunction, some products like Mukama Nayamba, Power play, Sabarara extra, Akaboozi, Kabody coffee contained medicinal properties that reportedly enhance sexual potency and improve appetite.
“I am directing that UNBS within the next seven days withdraws the distinctive mark on all the mentioned products and report to the committee. The regulator should also conduct a market survey of all the products within two months and also use the media to sensitise the public about these products,” Mpaka said.
