Jackie Ngarande raises concerns over declining quality of Dairibord yogurts

HARARE – Zimbabwean socialite and philanthropist Jackie Ngarande has publicly expressed concern over what she describes as a decline in the quality of Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited (DZL)’s yogurt products, urging the company to investigate and address the issue urgently.

In an open letter directed to Dairibord, Ngarande said she has always trusted the company’s products, which have been a household staple for generations, but recently noticed inconsistencies in the freshness and taste of some yogurts available on the market.

“Over the past few weeks, many of us have noticed that some of the yogurts being sold are not as fresh or tasteful as they used to be, in fact, a few seem close to, or possibly past, their expiry date,” Ngarande wrote.

“Mayogurts ari kuvava Dairibord, tine vana vadiki varikuchaya nemayogurts,” she added, expressing concern for children consuming the affected products.

Ngarande stated that the issue may stem from a technical or storage fault and called on the company to prioritize product quality control, distribution monitoring, and storage management to prevent potential health risks.

She further appealed to Dairibord to publicly address the matter to reassure consumers of the safety and quality of its dairy products.

“We trust Dairibord Zimbabwe for consistency, safety, and excellence, but lately, that trust is being shaken,” she said.

“We deserve transparency and accountability from a company of your reputation.”

Ngarande described herself as a loyal customer, saying her intention was not to discredit the brand but to ensure that its products maintain the high standards consumers have long associated with Dairibord.

In response, Dairibord acknowledged Ngarande’s concerns and issued an apology to its customers for the inconvenience caused.

The company confirmed that an internal Quality Assurance investigation had revealed “an isolated incident on the machine” affecting multiple batches of its Yummy yogurt brand.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and negative product experience,” Dairibord said in an official statement.

“Our Quality Assurance team has confirmed an isolated incident on the machine, which is affecting multiple batches, causing an unpleasant product experience.”

The company said it is taking corrective action to ensure all its products meet the expected quality and safety standards.

“We are taking necessary steps to ensure our products meet the high standards our customers expect from us. We appreciate your loyalty and trust in Dairibord Zimbabwe,” the statement read.

Dairibord also thanked Ngarande for raising the issue and invited her to share her contact details with the company’s customer care team for direct follow-up.

“Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our products and services. We will provide an update on the actions we are taking to address this issue,” Dairibord said.

The company, one of Zimbabwe’s largest dairy producers listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, is known for brands such as Pfuko, Cascade, Quickmilk, and Lyons, and has historically maintained a reputation for product reliability and food safety.