The Ministry of Health has ordered the removal of all Nuteez peanut butter from stores in the country after being found unfit for human consumption.
Through a statement, the government stated that the recall is to conduct analysis for the products from other places in the nation.
“The purpose of the circular is to inform you that the referred batch number of the peanut butter should be removed from the market and all other batches of the same product sampled and submitted to the laboratory for analysis to ensure safety,” read a part of the statement.
Kenya Consumer Protection Advisory Commitee (KECOPAC) is aware of information doing round regarding peanut butter brand; nuteez. We are investigating and will be getting back to the public.@CAK_Kenya @KEBS_ke @Trade_Kenya @Kiptoock @FredMatiangi @MOH_Kenya @KAM_kenya pic.twitter.com/WFlLIAd8h4
— KECOPAC Kenya (@KECOPAC_KE) January 31, 2019
The government further ordered Jetlak Food Limited which produces the Nuteez peanut butter, to submit its food safety reports to the Director of Public Health.
Interior CS Fred Matiang’i had earlier issued a warning over the consumption of the product.
Government chemist V.G Mpekethu stated that the peanut butter had surpassed the required limit for number of aflatoxins which was 10ppb. Mpekethu had pointed out that the type of peanut butter contained aflatoxins of 24.08(ppb).
Foods that are reported to contain the mould include peanuts, milk and cheese, soybeans and figs.
According to the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), aflatoxins are toxic chemicals produced as by-products by fungi (moulds) that grow on maize, cottonseed, groundnuts and other food crops.
These toxins also affect feedstuffs, which then contaminate milk, meat and eggs.
They occur everywhere in the world, but pose particularly high risks in tropical developing countries which are abundant in warm and humid regions and where certain staple foods, such as maize and sorghum, comprise a large part of the diets of the poor.