Nuclear Science Enhances Malawi’s Food Safety and Export Systems

Appreciated internationally for its rich, smooth and sweet flavour, tea is one of Malawi's top exports. Ensuring its competitiveness requires rigorous safety-related testing.

Milk, which in Malawi is predominantly produced by small-scale farmers, is vulnerable to microbiological and chemical hazards, posing health risks to consumers.

The MBS laboratory has begun applying techniques such as radioreceptor assays using carbon-14 and tritium tracers to rapidly and cost-effectively detect residues of chemicals used in animal production that may be present in milk and other foods. The lab now routinely tests milk for veterinary drug residues, supporting both consumer safety and improved livestock management by advising producers on appropriate agrochemical use in food production.

The laboratory is also using gamma spectrometry to precisely measure trace levels of radionuclides in food and environmental samples. These nuclear and other complementary techniques are now integrated into Malawi's routine food certification processes, helping ensure that food products entering and leaving the country can comply with safety standards and protect public health.

"We are grateful for the support provided, which has been transformative, closing critical gaps in Malawi's ability to monitor both radiological and chemical hazards in food and to better safeguard local and international consumers," said Stephen Massah Kuyeli, MBS Director of Testing Services.

"The progress achieved in Malawi reflects our shared commitment to strengthening national capabilities, not simply solving immediate challenges," said Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre. "Through training, technical analytical resources and knowledge transfer, we support countries in building laboratories that can independently monitor food products to ensure that food safety regulations are met and international standards are upheld."