ONLY 25 percent of 483 food products available in shops and supermarkets assessed in a recent Netherlands backed study met acceptable standards, the lead researcher has stated.

Kaitlyn Elavaza, a researcher with the Netherlands-based Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) which conducted the study in collaboration with the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) says that the report, released in Dar es Salaam yesterday, exposes major shortcomings in food and beverage preparation/

She said that companies processing these products were not doing their best in prioritizing consumer health, as most of the foods they put to the market are substandard.

There is a serious deficiency in the nutritional quality of processed children’s food products available in the market, as out of 443 products assessed, only nine percent met acceptable nutrition standards, she stated.

An evaluation exercise which analyzed technical procedures in 21 companies and for 483 processed food products found that locally available items fall well below international nutrition standards, the researcher affirmed.

“This means most processed food products in stores are of low quality and pose health risks to consumers,” she stated, asserting that among seven multinational companies selling products in Tanzania, six had lower average health star ratings (HSR) locally than in their global product lines.

Alarmingly, none of the 10 companies reviewed had set clear targets to reduce salt, sugar or fat content in their products, while of the 21 companies assessed, only seven fortified their products with additional nutrients, she further noted.

Compliance with nutritional benchmarks remained extremely low across major food categories, as only 1.9 percent of breakfast cereals met standards, followed by 12.5 percent of juices, 2.5 percent of energy drinks, 2.5 percent of snacks and 2.5 percent of sweet treats, she specified.

Dr. Germana Leyna, the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre executive director, welcomed the report, saying it is aligned with the government’s multi-sectoral nutrition strategy introduced in 2021.

The government welcomes this report as it shows that private agencies are open to working with us to improve food quality,” she said, noting that the food and beverage sector is growing rapidly, so engaging companies in these discussions is essential.

She also acknowledged the difficulty of changing consumer preferences, noting that many of us have grown up enjoying sweet flavours, making it easier for companies to sell sugary products here that might not be popular in their countries of origin.

Neema Lugangira (Special Seats), a nutrition advocate, appealed for urgent improvements in policy and regulatory frameworks to ensure high food standards for local and imported products.

“This study reinforces my long-standing call in Parliament for food safety oversight to be transferred to the Ministry of Health, rather than remaining under the Ministry of Industry and Trade,” she stated.

“The findings show that some companies create different product versions depending on the market. With only nine percent of children’s foods meeting quality standards, the case for reform is urgent and clear,” she added.