Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) has banned manufacture and sale of Kombucha and Kagasok – believed to be medicinal products. The regulators say the products fall short of minimum standards.

Antonie Mukunzi, the director testing laboratories at RSB, told The New Times that the products failed to meet the minimum standards after undergoing several laboratory tests.

Kombucha brew is made from fermenting sweetened black tea with yeasts and bacteria called the Kombucha mushroom.

Locally, there are two types of Kombucha brew –Kombucha and Kagasok. They are considered as medicinal products and energy drinks.

"The products were found with high levels of microbes and toxins dangerous for human consumption prompting the standards board to impose a ban on their manufacture,” Mukunzi noted.

He noted that there was need to conduct more research into the products before they are allowed to be produced in the country.

Philip Nzaire, RSB‘s director of quality assurance, said manufactures were never authorised by the Board to make these products.

"The products have never been approved by any authorities including Ministry of Health despite being sold as medicine. They were also being manufactured in an unhygienic environment putting lives of many customers at risk,” Nzaire said.

Efforts to retrieve the products from the market are underway by the RSB inspectorate team, Nzaire revealed.

"Anybody found manufacturing these products will be dealt in accordance with the country’s consumer protection law, Nzaire warned.

However, manufactures who spoke to The New Times on condition of anonymity, said their products met all the requirements.

"It’s not true that we never informed RSB and the ministry; both institutions were aware of what we are doing. Besides, we were never warned about the impending closure,” a manufacturer based in Nyarugunga Sector said.

"Some of us have been operating on bank loans so now that we have closed shop, how are we going to pay back?” he wondered.

About Kombucha

The tea originated from East Asia and was introduced into Germany as an immunity-boosting drink.

It latter became more popular in the US. It is especially taken by people with HIV/Aids and the elderly due to belief that it can boost immunity and slows down aging.

However, according to Mukunzi, if not properly managed, the fungus in the tea could pose a serious threat to one’s health.