The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has increased its regulatory oversight of bakeries in Dar es Salaam following a series of inspections aimed at improving food safety compliance across the sector.

The exercise covered around 200 bakery facilities and revealed notable gaps in adherence to required food safety standards, raising concerns about potential risks to public health.

Authorities noted that Dar es Salaam plays a dominant role in the national bakery industry, hosting about 320 bakeries out of more than 590 registered across the country, which represents approximately 93 percent of all bakery operations in Tanzania.The inspections come at a time when demand for bread in Tanzania is rising steadily at an estimated rate of 4.7 percent per year, driven by population growth and changing dietary habits.According to TBS, the rapid expansion of the sector has made strict compliance with hygiene and production standards more important than ever.Dr.

Katunzi, speaking on behalf of the bureau, highlighted that many bakeries were not fully complying with food safety requirements, a situation that could expose consumers, especially children, to foodborne illnesses.In response to these findings, TBS has introduced training programmes for bakery owners and workers in Dar es Salaam.

The initiative focuses on educating operators about proper hygiene practices, quality control measures, and legal requirements governing food production.Rather than relying only on enforcement, the bureau is also emphasising capacity building to improve long-term compliance and industry standards.The bakery sector is also becoming increasingly important for Tanzania’s economy and trade.While bread imports are expected to rise from 7.2 million US dollars in 2023 to about 8.2 million US dollars by 2028, exports are projected to grow more strongly, reaching around 106.5 million US dollars by 2028 compared to 82.3 million US dollars in 2023.This growth highlights the importance of maintaining international food safety standards to support competitiveness in regional and global markets.The sector also provides key employment opportunities, especially for women and youth, making its sustainable development a priority for authorities.