TESTS conducted in South Africa on Zambeef meat products have confirmed the presence the harmful substance, aromatic aldehydes, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde has told Parliament today.
Further contamination of some imported meat products in local outlets had also been confirmed.
Dr Kasonde said Zambeef will face appropriate action as prescribed by the law, but did not state the exact punitive action that will be mooted.
D Kasonde said his ministry was on increased alert following the shocking discovery regarding Zambeef contaminated meat last month.
Dr Kasonde said this in Parliament yesterday when he presented an updated ministerial statement on the findings of the investigations on Zambeef imported meat products.
“The findings from further laboratory analysis undertaken in South Africa have confirmed the presence of formaldehydes in meat samples taken from different batches and outlets of Zambeef.
“Following up on the results of the investigation, my Ministry will take appropriate action on this matter as prescribed by the existing laws in order to ensure adherence to food safety standards in the country,” Dr Kasonde said.
Aromatic aldehydes are normally used as a preservative including in embalming of corpses and industrial purposes.
He said monitoring of food products by inspection and testing of samples on importation and local storage and sales points had proved effective as a way to protect the public from consuming contaminated material.
“The affected meat products are the interiors and hooves which are mainly imported and it is therefore important that we establish the point of contamination, a task we have vigorously embarked on,” he said.
Dr Kasonde said Zambeef had abrogated the Public Health Act Cap 295 of the laws of Zambia Meat, abattoir and butcheries regulations and the abattoir and transport of meat regulations and the Food and Drugs Act Cap 303.
“Formaldehyde (aromatic aldehydes) is in a group of aldehydes and is a compound mainly used in embalming corpses for preservation and is also used in industrial activities. Formaldehyde is not listed among the preservatives in our Food and Drugs Act because of its harmful nature,” he said.
He warned that vending in fresh meat and fish products on the streets could also increase the possibility of contamination, therefore, his Ministry with the involvement of the local authorities would intensify routine monitoring of food and strengthen surveillance not only in points of entry but also within the country.
This was for the sole purpose of ensuring food safety and guarantee of quality of life of the people.
He said normal business would be resumed by various meat suppliers, with the assurance to the public that the intensified surveillance system would remain in effect.
Dr Kasonde informed the House that the 13 trucks containing imported fresh fish whose results were negative for aromatic ketones and aldehydes, had since been released for the owners to conduct business-as-usual as per standard surveillance guidelines.
He said in carrying out the investigations, the Ministry of Health had worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and other relevant ministries to facilitate for the smooth investigation process.
The Ministry of Health was also monitoring the importation of fish into the country.
Embalmed or not, Beef is not good for health, period. Zambians please embrace traditional food like chibwabwa, impwa, kapenta, ifishimu etc.
I love my meat and pls dnt ask me to stop. its testy and juicy.
This is really scary. I don’t believe Zambeef applies these products only to imported meat. Further investigations may reveal how these chemicals are used in their local abattoirs too. And if you get deeper into this case a relationship may be established between Zambeef and our local mortuaries as suppliers of these chemicals, which Zambeef may actually be REUSING after the malukulas have done their thing. How disgusting!!!
Princess, traditional Zambian foods also include beef, goat meat, pork, buffalo, rhino, elephant, impala…etc… I agree though, that less meat is good, but I just wish for us to give the right explanation. To say beef is not traditional Zambian food is off-target, but your idea of less meat is solid.
@Equalizer, you’re spot on. Maybe I should follow KK’s ways on this one…
Imwe baiche ba watchdogs. awe kwena namuchilamo. How do you put such a picture for your president? At Sata takes his witch hair to kafulafuta?
please let us get the facts correct, Aromatic (six carbon ring basic structure or benzene ring) with formula of C6H5CHO is totally different from CH2O which is the formalin (when dissolved in water about 40% V/V). Truth should be total, journalist should also read or employ medical/scientists journalists to help with some of these things before misleading the public.
Please eat locally grown food. When food is transported, it is treated with a lot of chemicals to keep it fresh and prolong shelf life.
Since you like imichopo too much, have meat slaughtered at local abattoirs inspected by local govt etc
Govt should impose COOL (country of origin label) on all food staffs.
All this fruit you eat from SA is sprayed with chemicals, eat locally grown fruit. Support your local farmers
Correct. Locally produced food is best. Anyone who has eaten beef from mwanamainda on Kafue road will attest to this when comparing with meat from “industrial farming” outlets.
This makes sad reading.I wonder what went into Zambeefs suppliers minds to come up with this kind of meat preservation.Smh
Greed as they where getting it for nothing.
Get there thick heads a hell out of this counry. Thouugh meat is not good for health, the majority eat it.
Wapya Munzi, Zambeef kuya bebele. Also Dr Kasonde should request those who regularly bought the said Meat products to volunteer for Medical Checks in order to know the extent and eventually Compensation if need be, hope there are some with receipts to nail Zambeef. This peharps Answers Doc Kaseba why Zambia is high on Cancers especially our Women. Probably an assignment for UTH Medicine students to Check the link between Cervical / Breast cancers with Zambeef Presrvative.
Good points!
good point my brother/sister
Good thinking
This is what you get in the age of the PF which has given disproportionate attention to politics of personal destruction at the expense of health matters,safety and national devt.
ON THE OTHER HAND. DON’T YOU THINK BANDA AND HIS SONS WOULD HAVE SWEPT THIS UNDER THE CARPET AND GAINED HUGELY FROM ZAMBEEF.
THUMBS UP TO PF GOVT FOR EXPOSING THIS SCAM.
I WILL ENLIST FOR MEDICAL CHECKUPS ASAP.
Zambeef has been importing from the MMD dispensetion and never brought this to our attention. PF has brought it out and you want to blame them, the Post reported on it and you called Mmembe evil. Some of you need mental analysis.
What was your boss HH advocating for? Credit where it is due has to be given my friend. Thumbs up to PF on this issue, I agree with Dip Stick on this HH and Banda would have covered up this.
Kasonde should also release the lab results to the media showing the percentages of contamination. It is pains me that 50 years after independence we as country could not trace the contamination in these selfsame samples….instead of investing in useless stadia why not invest in ICT and laboratories.
Like I said this meat was too cheap for my liking…I wonder what the ZAMBEEF Irish CEO Francis Grogan will say now; who insisted that his imported beef products did not contain any harmful substances.
Wen did kasonde enter the lab last his education ended on the bunsen burner no wonder he chewed zambeef meat and xpected south africans to tell him that he was being embarked
@Jay Jay, you have taken the words right out of my mouth ! That was my thought as well ! It’s been 50 years after the colonialists left Zambia in the hands of blacks and these people have not developed the facilities to implement vital tests NEEDED by the the ministry of health, ministry of Agriculture, and the food Safety Standard tests. What a shame !
Bana mayo evin serve the husbands relative with veggies and hide inyanzi in the long run they start lookin like wrestlers or tubeless and ar divorced learn to share problems
hahahaha! oh, my ribs eh!
LMAO!! Ati hiding inyazi from husband’s relatives ka! Tell us more about that!
Hehehehehe! Nafwa ine!
LOL!
At least Zambians will now WAKE UP to the fact that there is nothing like a free meal or cheap beef in the Europe or the west…there is always a catch. Their consumers learnt this the hard way with the horse meat scandal.
Damwit ba fulwe aba baliba bad…I use to buy a lot of offals from ba swine aba chiiizzzess as mwine mushi would say!!!!
It could be they were horse offals even!
I hope Dr Kasonde and his masters are standing on firm ground otherwise they risk losing the taxpayers a lot of money. And get your government scientists ready please. By the way , has the government also withdrawn imported food items with vanilla ingredients in them? Vanilla is an Aromatic Aldehyde.
the problem is that people do not know that aromatic aldehydes are common preservative materials. Therefore, the need to be specific, in this case say there was formalin detected in the offals. Anyways, any which way ZAMBEEF will soon be history and some quarters of the society should be happy about this.
That is why while others rush to the fridges of Zambeef, i like going to my village, buy a live goat then slaughter it and roast it. No chemicals just the grass which the ka Mbuzi ate. Pa side i have even Katapa or cibwabwa yakusashila.
the post the paper that digs deeper has finally won the case!! bravo mmembe
HH ******we you said the government is intimidating zambeef,whats ths we are a reading? stanyo.koh with your roten regional party
Wait for Zambeef response. You couldn’t but have a dig at HH in your vulgar language. People who do not speak your language nor belong to your ethnicity are also Zambians. You are so personal and emotional about “ba mwisa” who utter a word about “your government”. Why are you so quick to accept whatever your govt says to be the gospel truth? Don’t be surprised if you’re taken to the cleaners. You detained 12 Zambeef trucks and the products in the contained no AAs.
banoko glue ku chinyoh tlilapwa ilyashi ili.
Typical of you kind the best you know is all insults. Chances are high that you are imbwa yourself.
I have been emabalmed! No wonder I have started looking ugly.
You cant even remember when you last tasted beef. muleikalafye
Katele according to Economic, you are either a vegitarian or you cant afford beef, hehehehehhehe.
Ala Twafwa mwebantu
Quote
“Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products.
Formaldehyde sources in the home include pressed-wood products, cigarette smoke, and fuel-burning appliances.
When exposed to formaldehyde, some individuals may experience various short-term effects.
Formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Research studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and several cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia.”
National Cancer…
I almost bought shares in Zambeef but instead I opted for CEC, Airtel, ZANACO, and ZSUG. I could have been one of the beneficiaries of ’embalming the nation’. I made the right decision then.
Bana mayo mwebafisa utunama ati katemba chupo, I now understand why husbands have died so much in recent years. Zambeef my ass
Heheheheh tu temba chupo uko twaipaya abalume hehehehe
Blatant lie; Formaldehyde has never been an aromatic aldehyde. This is meant to fool the uneducated Zambians, what a disregard for your collective wisdom, do they take you for fuuls or what?
@daudi or david, i cant listen to you go and advice your traditional leader HH. am not happy at all.
if you want better result conduct yours in mazabuka or monze you have canecius banda.
HEALTH is very important !!! HH can privatise all the mines as he wish and amase all the wealth but not health of the people
We as UPND will protest to stop Dr. Kasonde and his ailing dictator from prosecuting Zambeef. it is abuse of human rights. This is what Kaponyas voted for. Shame on you PamaFi thugs. HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH 2016
So you have come WDZ and start your insults here. Shame on you. This nothing to do with PF. It starts with the guys who work at the boarders and workers themselves. Be civilized and board enough
This has to be taken with a pinch of salt. it can not be true. these results are suspicious. this govt is full of bufi.
I for one stopped eating broiler chickens along time ago on my own.I couldn’t stand the fat that is produced when it is been fried.I enjoy village chicken(i keep them),dry fish & ibondwe,kapenta in peanut butter(ever tried it?),kapata& impwa,beans in okra and most of the vegetables plus ubowa.In short, am close to a vegetarian.You also can do it.
zambeef meat is not good at all the period taken to transport is too long,
HEALTH is very important !!! HH can privatize all the mines as he wish and amase all the wealth but not health of the people
HEALTH is very important !!! HH can privatize all the mines as he wish and amase all the wealth but not health of the people
Leave HH out of this you maggot
Just shut it down can they be ever trusted? what a loss all for what a little profit? crime has a short lifespan!
Iwe ci nubian princes uli ci puba so coz oreservatives re categorised & do u expect aromatic aldehydes to substitute alowed preservatives apart frm requird ones?Who do u want to confuse?uli iule ci puba iwe.
Mule kwatako amano ba Dada. Ifyo mwingala tukana ifi just because you’re hiding behind the web. I’m sure you can’t insult Nubian in her face. She’d certainly clobber your wimpy self!
Ya chabipa, Ba “Zambeef quietly embalming the nation”. That’s why most Zambians are looking well preserved kikikiki awe Shuwa
Chemicals have been found in imported meats – government confirmed. This is good! Now we can make progress. A number of things that will benefit the masses:
1. Stop the importation of meat products that contain harmful chemicals
2. Randomly place inspectors at points of entry
3. Reduce the importation of meats and products that can be produced locally.
While not perfect, this is at least a plan. I hope PF does not politicise this and try to bring HH into this.
Just solve the problem, this is why you are in office.
#OneZambia
This is a wrong reporting by lusaka times. The minister said formaldehydes and not aromatic aldehydes.There is a difference between the two.
#16 Kay – I am hoping that the minister is not the one quoted as stating that “Formaldehyde (aromatic aldehyde)”!!!!!! Formaldehyde is NOT aromatic! This would be an extremely stupid statement from a scientist. Further, can the minister tell the nation what the concentration in the control sample is? Most fermentation products contain aldehydes eg wine, cheese – we hammer aldehydes everyday — headaches!!! One aldehyde, acetaldehyde is a potential neurotoxin (of course at toxic levels) – the minister needs to give facts about levels of these substances to establish whether they are deliberately added to the beef – to establish grounds for criminality. Simply producing blanket statements breeds suspicions.
Good points – Government’s job is to inform the nation, not to give half-truths that merely cause suspicion and panic.
I’m not saying Zambeef deserves a “free pass” on health matters (absolutely not!), but the company IS a very big employer, very big buyer of smallholder beef, and very big taxpayer. Improper, incomplete, and/or misleading information could therefore cause untold economic damage and needs to be handled much more carefully than this.
A useful start, for example, would have been to emphasize there is no evidence local products are contaminated (…which I guess and can only assume is true).
UUmhg…
I thought the insults would go with ZWD!! It appears ZWD journalists are still out there even after the clamp down. Do security check on the following:
– Notorious-danai kanai-Dada
Even on a technical topic as this one, those three found an excuse to hurl insults.
Pastors and priests have a tough job to teach such people morals, since parents seem to have given up.
Yes, ZAMBEEF should face the law. However, the right action is to ban the importation of internal meet products -offals and intensify meet inspections already being done by the Dept of Livestock Services at all slaughter points.
ZAMBEEF should be preserved. You do not throw away the baby with the dirty water you have cleaned them with. Hon. Kasonde and your professionals, just do your work – ignore…
zambianwatchdog is not gone. Those who want to read it can access it using proxies……
@praise be to god, what you are saying is truth but stop pretending as if you dont insult. you are the same people posting rubbish things on watchdog and pretending to be saints here on lusaka times, its bad with what you do . have tried to remaind your collegues at watchdog to stop hauling insults at pf and bembas but they dont allow such coments
tell your friends to behave,
Bufi,zwd is no gone I read it at will
THIS IS THE KIND OF NONSENSE HH WAS PROTECTING. ZAMBIANS SHOULD NOW REALISE HH’S SCHEMES – ITS ALL ABOUT HIMSELF AND SELF INTERESTS. NO THOUGHT FOR THE POOR AT ALL. I WONDER WHAT HE NOW HAS TO SAY. HE’LL PROBABLY SAY HE WAS MISQUOTED. THIS A MAN WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT.
@ MEN@WORK, YOU ARE VERY RIGHT, LOOK AT HOW HH U-TURNED AND STARTED SUPPORTING RB AFTER LOOSING 2011 ELECTIONS, A MAN HE CONDEMNED TO THE BONE AS HAVING BEEN CORRUPT. WITH THE CASE BEFORE THE COURTS i WONDER WHAT HH HAS TO SAY ESPECIALLY IF THE CASE GOES AGAINST RB. THE MAN HAS NO PRINCIPLES WHATSOEVER. THAT IS THE REASON WHY HE CAN’T STAY IN AN ALLIANCE WITH ANY PARTY, HE CAN’T BE TRUSTED. HE’S A CHAMELEON.
Even M’embe u turned and started supporting SATA after losing to instal Magande as successor to RB , bring out issues , you seem to have a very low calibre especially on easy topics…Research helps alot
Most of the Zambians are confusing aromatic adelhydes with formadelhydes. Aromatic adelhydes are harmless and are used universally as preservatives and for flavoring of food – to enhance the aroma of food. In their natural state, aromatic adelhydes are found in such natural flavors as vanilla and cinnamon. Because of the high demand for these adelhydes, they are also produced synthetically on a large scale and used in the production of chocolates, ice cream, and flavoring for cakes. Thus whenever you eat a cake, chocolate, or ice cream, the chances are that it has some aromatic adelhyde in it. For those who are paranoid about aromatic adelydes, I would suggest that they not only stop eating Zambeef meat beef products but also pizza, polony, salami, chocolate, ice, cream, cake, etc!
Who did your Zambeef informed that they use preservatives on “fresh meats”?
Formadelhydes, on the other hand are used in embalming dead bodies. They are very effective in ensuring that dead bodies do not compose. They are also used in disinfectants; used in the manufacturing of glues and resins; in the textile industry to improve a fabric’s resistance to creases and wrinkles; in the manufacturing of inks; in the natural gas and petroleum industries to improve the yield of these fuels; in the making of explosives; as a preservative in cosmetics; and in in the manufacture of polyacetals, which are thermoplastics used in electrical and electronic applications. Unlike aromatic adelhydes, formadelhydes have a nasty industrial scent. If, at all, Zambeef used formadelhydes in preserving meat as alleged, the meat would probably smell like burning plastic material!
The problem we have in this country is that we have an extremely poor reading culture, politicization of issues, very poor research and analytical skills. As a result, we take everything we read in the press, even if it riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies, as gospel truth. The Post newspaper was accusing Zambeef of poisoning consumers by selling them meat injected with aromatic adelhydes and most people swallowed this hook, line, and sinker, and possibly sending Zambeef to a premature graveyard with its five thousand plus employees losing their jobs. Very few Zambians have even bothered to independently investigate this issue; those of who have done are being denounced and ridiculed as apologists for Zambeef.
thank you. spot on
Long time ago disease like BP,diabetes&cancer were quite rare not today.If you have a relative working for Zambeef just keep quite and start enjoying traditional foodstuffs.
Ikalafye kapoli iwe. Waba umusula
Thank you for attempting to educate lazy Zambians who cannot read and understand things. I wish you could write this to the minister of health and our parliamentarians.
No wonder there is a genesis of unidentified sicknesses in Zambia! This situation is not different from that of gardeners who use sewer manure to grow vegetables that themselves cannot eat. No wonder most of the chaps from Chipata who work for ZamBeef do not eat beef from their outlets!
Doctor Kasonde I have quoted you saying “13 trucks containing imported fresh fish whose results were negative for aromatic ketones and aldehydes, had since been released for the owners to conduct business-as-usual as per standard surveillance guidelines.” Dont you see this posing a health hazard to the nation to us who are going to eat this products coz they have been on the ship for 1 to 2 months then impounded again and later to be sold to us O God help us Please Dr Kasonde Close up this Zambeef
ban the products government why are you waisting time
Max Mbizo Excellent analysis
Were the chemicals applied at source that is in Europe or were they applied here locally by Zambeef?
Or Was it a deliberate collusion by the exporting companies and Zambeef to lace these products to cause cancerous dieseses to poor Zambians?
Govt needs to get to the bottom of this case and my even need international investigators to get tothe root of this problem the real intentions of embalming these products.
We also wonder if the meat from Zambeef was not also laced with this cancer causing chemical .
We know that Zambeef supplies a lot of meat and meat products to Shoprite countrywide and imagine what unhealth effects we shall undure in future as many Zambians buy meats from this chain of stores contrywide.
Oh!!! Mayikalange ine!! Now I know why South African beef taste like human fresh ( very tasteless indeed) and why South African women have big bums… it’s because of this aromatic adelhyde business. The cost of being dumping site by developed countries. Which brings me to the other questions. How many radiation contaminated vehicles from Japan are cruising around our beloved country and how long will it take our government to realise this.
Have you ever tasted human flesh? You are scaring man uli ndoshi ninshi? How do you know the test of human flesh?
You have tasted human flesh?? You must be SATANIST. Police please ARREST this person!!
I am tired of the zambeef issue …today its this 2moro its that…is it political?Please Chi Dr Kasonde Close up this Zambeef twatendwa
Kasonde can you extend your research to other Zambeef products on the market. Unlabeled cooking oil is one product that needs to be investigated.
This GRZ is alarmist and dullard. Can this luapula scientist dissist from getting ideas from a group 3 dropout.
Let him not generalize but be specific that its hooves and offals that contain aromatic adlehydes not meat. Ubututu bwa shani?
Now please go arrest Francis Grogan the CEO. He’s so arrogant. Mind you we have not even talked about expired kidneys which they repackaged as yet. These people are criminals to say the least
This is end of Zambeef as far as iam concerned. Directors must be jailed and all those that have baught offals and Hooves from Zambeef must be compensanted.
CNP you are a very f.o.o.l.i.s.h person. The GRZ is trying to protect the lives of your old mother and children if at all you have any and all you can do is tribalism as you know it best. Get responsible Chika. la
The extreme measure is to withdraw their licence and close the company. That has serious social and economic implications considering the size of the company and number of employees affected. They should instead fine Zambeef heavily, there is also a personal liability for directors of the company that should be in form fine and jail sentence plus tighten controls on their products. Families that can prove they ate the ofals and hooves must also claim compensation from the company. The people need a public apology.
The first step is for the minister of health who has not at all helped the situation to provide a comprehensive and well investigated technical report instead of fueling the speculation by issuing incomplete reports in parliament!
HH did not privatize the mines but his company was contracted to do so by govt in the current president was a senior official.
One day Clive Chirwa is cleared the other he is not . One day Zambeef is cleared the other day its not cleared. Give one position
How can they when no one in this government is allowed to cc anyone (least of all their boss) on important correspondence?
imported products “matumbonand vimbombo?” you mean Zmbian cows do do not have intestines and hooves, how do they walk and graze? These must be cows from Mpika
Zambeef, Tasty, tender Beef. Zambeef has contributed to improved Life Expectatncy in Zambia. Why because of aromatic aldehydes. This chemical embalms you while you are alive so you dont have to die. ….
What is formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials. In addition, formaldehyde is commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment. It is produced in small amounts by most living organisms as part of normal metabolic processes.
Kwena imwe ba Zampono! you are very @ your mothers @’s and give us? mother @@ker! please Government do somethings over these Dogs so called Zambawishi@ò.
THE POWER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
YOU CAN NOT HIDE. IT EITHER RIGHT OR WRONG.
KEEP IT UP.
I think it makes sense now…. Locally slaughtered cattle like in Mongu is transported to Lusaka and obviously exported to whites who have resorted to natural food stuffs with less chemicals and the meat sold in Mongu comes from Lusaka which is definitely imported. Health Inspectors really need to pull up their stockens and those characters who certified the carcases free from harm should be charged. No wonder we are these days seeing a lot of complicated diseases which are confusing our Medical Professionals almost rendering them unprofessional.
This explains why the cabinet, police and judges have been behaving in such an aggressive manor, they have all been scoffing mad cows!!
Suggestion: a heavy fine and life imprisonment.
Taking over the company and selling it would also be justified: It was poisoning the masses.
This is a confusing statement from the mininster who is meant to be a doctor. Which is which ba Kasonde? Is is formaldehyde or aromatic aldehydes because these are totally different. This is the same as saying that an accident was caused by a driver in a toyota driving a benz. Just as this statement doesnt make sense Kasonde’s statement also makes no sense. Besides no one would cook and eat any food with formaldehyde without noticing the smell and the taste as being strange. Please Mr Minister be specific in your reporting especially to parliament. If Kasonde’s statement was an assey for a grade 9 it would have been a clear fail.
meant Levi not RB sorry……
Action against that white CEO and his Zambian stooges must be swift and decisive. They, singularly and collectively, must have caused untold numbers of deaths and incurable diseases among the innocent Zambian consumers of their poisonous foods.
Formaldehides and aromatic aldehides are to defferent organic compunds.Aromatic aldehides are derived from the combination of aromatic ring to CHO group while the is from H to CHO.
If what the report by the minister of Health is true ZAMBEEF must not be allowed to supply meet to the Zambian market.According to international food standards like HCCP and many others, ZAMBEEF was supposed to establish Critical control points (ccp) in their food value chain especialy at the point of purchase.It seems it was a deliberate move on their part.we demand life time compensation from them.