Rubirizi Dairy Corporation has reopened for business, two months after it was closed by Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) over producing contaminated yogurt. Philip Nzaire, RBS director of quality assurance and inspections said that the milk-processing plant reopened after its productions line passed laboratory tests. “We have decided to reopen Rubirizi Dairy Corporation after it passed the standards mark,” he said. Nzaire however warned that the standards watchdog will maintain close surveillance on all milk plants that have been reopened to ensure compliance. Three out five milk processors, closed by RBS in December 2013, remain out of production. However, despite assurances from the standards body about the safety of the products, some consumers The New Times spoke to remain skeptical, an indication that the affected companies will have to do more work to win back consumer trust. “I have not yet picked interest in any milk products, including yogurt… It will take me quite some time to regain the lost confidence,” said Rose Kanyange, a regular consumer of yogurt. According to Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, the Director General RBS, any food made with raw milk can contain harmful bacteria and hence the need to ensure it is boiled to required standards.
