A report which was carried by two renowned doctors, Dr Charles Dzamalala and Dr Yohane Mlombe has faulted Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) for allowing Press Cane Limited to sell its rectified spirit to the public which is sub standard.
As per standard of Malawi MS573:2007(ICS.080.60)(Ethanol specification), stipulates that the maximum level of methanol in rectified spirit should be 50 ppm.
However, after the samples, which was carried out in a South African labolatry it was discovered that Presscane rectified spirit has got 140 ppm of methanol.
In a letter signed by Dr Dzamalala and Dr Mlombe, which was issued on 22,September, 2021 titled “Test Results Report for Rectified Alcohol” was sent to MBS Director.
The letter questions the Director of Testing Services at MBS, Stephen Kuyeli who released a report indexed PEST /120/AX/06 which showed that the sample he carried on rectified spirit from Presscane showed no trace of methanol, Acetone, Propanol or pentanol.
However, after some research it showed that the rectified spirit used in Malawi from Press Cane is dangerous impure as it can cause leukemia skin cancer and make people blind.
“We wrote to request followup on the PEST /20/AX/06 report as provided by MBS as custodian of Standards in the country. It is desirable that MBS procedures carry the trust of all of us and are accurate,” reads the letter.
The letter, therefore, propose a committee of experts drawn from MBS, Chancellor College Chemistry department, Presscane Limited, Ethanol Limited, and Hacri Limited.
“The Committee shall then witness the testing process of the same sample at Presscane inorder to come to an understanding of the local testing methods and processes available in Malawi and identify any issues that might stand in the way of an accurate determination of impurities in alcohols that are accessible for human consumption in the country.
“It is in the interest of public health to ensure that dangerous impurities as methanol are not supplied to be in contact by humans,” reads the letter.
The letter further questions Presscane for using this rectified spirit for hand sanitizer and methelated spirit thereby turning a blind eye to the same putting the lives of the population at risk perhaps in the pursuit of profits.
“The results from MBS which showed no impurities for rectified spirits are also concerning as to whether they were genuine results or they were unrealieble results from an incompetent or from a corrupt labolatry,” it reads
