Several youths are expected to go jobless after the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) closed factory premises of Sunshare Investment Limited in Mukono until further notice over failure to comply with standards in its production processes. UNBS says closure is a consumer protection measures.
The company produces ‘the Lucky brand of juices including mango, pineapple and orange flavours.
According to Laboratory analysis carried out by UNBS on product samples submitted for testing, there was an indication of high level of Free Chlorine in the product contrary to the requirements of the Standard (US 47: 2011) for juices and other non-carbonated drinks.
According to the standard, juices and non-carbonated drinks should be free from chlorine because of its adverse effects on human health since chlorine reacts with water to form acids which are poisonous to human body once consumed.
Chlorine is an active ingredient used in disinfectants such as JIK to sterilize water and kill bacteria and other micro-organisms. However, high levels of chlorine results in production of toxic substances that may lead to damage of internal body organs.
“The premises of Sunshare factory shall remain closed until when the company directors have demonstrated that they have put corrective measures in place to ensure that such contamination does happen in future” A statement from UNBS reads.
The factory employs hundreds of people at the Mukono processing plants and these are not guaranteed of jobs until such a time when UNBS decides to re-open the factory.