MBS grow some teeth

Social media, the past weeks, has been abuzz with stories of a fizzy drink called Frozy that I understand has taken the market by storm.

Many who have written posts about the drink speak highly of the drink which comes in a variety of flavours. I have heard about it but never tasted it.

I didn’t quite know that it is this popular until the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) banned the drink for not conforming to the standards. From the social media talk, many feel MBS shouldn’t have banned the drink and some feel there is an e invisible hand that forced MBS to ban the drink.

When I heard of the ban, my first reaction was to question the timing of the ban. Why did it take MBS such a long time to ban the drink—it’s been around for quite some time. I have no problem with MBS banning Frozy—it’s for our own good.

However, I have a problem with MBS’ way of doing things. It seems MBS can pick and choose what to ban and not.

For a start, the bureau has failed to completely ban the sachet liquor.

It is still being sold almost a year after it was banned. Not only that, there are so many other products on the market that leave a lot to be desired but are sold nonetheless as the bureau looks the other way.

Many who have been protesting the banning of the Frozy are suspicious that MBS did not effect the ban on its own but rather was pressured to do so by some market players who might have lost some clientele to Frozy.

Those protesting the banning of Frozy are doing so bearing in mind that if MBS has teeth, it would have taken so many products that do not meet the required standards off the market. I have in mind some bottled water.

There is bottled water on the market. The company that sells the water can’t even spell MBS it says it’s certified by MS.

Now, why do we still have this water on the market? Is MBS not interested in doing an investigation on such a product for the sake of Malawians’ health?

The bureau oftentimes pays a blind eye to certain companies and products and only choosing to pounce on hapless ones like vendors while leaving big companies scot free despite apparent flaunting of standards.

MBS it is time you grow some strong teeth. You cannot afford to pick and choose what to ban or not. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for Malawians’ sake.