Malawi Bureau of Standards reassessing Frozy drink

There is hope that the fizzy drink, Frozy which got banned two months ago will come back again on the local market as authorities are reassessing the drink.

In October this year the Malawi Bureau of Standards banned Frozy saying it is not worth to be sold in the country since it has high acid levels.

However, this did not please Yaafico Industrial which makes the Frozy brand of soft drinks. The Mozambican company vehemently rejected claims by MBS that the Frozy drinks does not meet the standards laid down by the Malawian authorities.

But following the continued ban of the drink, Yaafico industry has sent MBS new samples of Frozy for the bureau to reassess the drink and probably lift the ban.

Confirming the development, MBS director general Davlin Chokazinga said if the samples which are under test happens to meet their standards, Frozy drinks will be back in Malawi.

“Everything is going well and we are still taking out the remaining Frozy drinks from the local market. The Mozambican company which makes Frozy says it has changed the way it was producing the drink and they have since sent us some samples which we are testing now. If all goes well, Frozy will be accepted to be used in the country,” said Chokazinga.

Frozy was banned in Malawi on October 25 after MBS found that the drink failed to conform to the bureau’s conform standards.

“Following failure of Frozy soft drinks to conform with the applicable specifications and in accordance with the Imports Regulations of the MBS Act (Cap 51:02), the MBS is hereby advising importers, distributors, sellers and the general public that this product is substandard and that importation distribution, sell and use is prohibited until further notice.”

“In accordance with section 39 of the MBS Act (Cap 51:02), importers, distributors or sellers of the product, are requested to openly declare to the MBS quantities of Frozy drinks currently in their custody and agree on appropriate handling and disposal procedures with immediate effect,” said MBS when announcing the ban.

But Yaafico Industry claimed that its drinks conform to regional standards and are certified by, and frequently analysed by the National Food and Water Hygiene Laboratory (LNHAA) of the Mozambican Health Ministry.

The company also claimed that in the last analysis in August, and in all previous ones, the levels of acidity detected were in conformity with the standards demanded by the LNHAA, and throughout the southern African region.