KEBS Bans Dola, Kifaru, Jembe Maize Flour Labels

The Kenya Bureau of Standards on Saturday banned Dola, Kifaru, Starehe and Jembe maize flour labels.

Together with the four brands, the standardisation regulators also prohibited 210 Two Ten maize meal.

Through a press release, KEBS have forbid the selling of the products after they were discovered to have high levels of aflatoxins.

Supermarket attendant arranging the maize flour labels

The authorities further advised all manufacturers to recall the products from the market and suspended their permits until the matter is resolved.

“Consequently, the respective permits have been suspended and the manufacturers instructed to discontinue offering the sale the affected maize meal products,” read a part of the statement.

The media release added that, “The manufacturers are required to recall all the substandard maize meal products and institute corrective actions.”

KEBS statement on suspension of the maize flour brands

 

Jembe Maize Flour

Aflatoxins are defined as any of a class of toxic compounds produced by certain moulds found in food, which can cause liver damage and cancer.

Such food to exhibit the compounds include peanuts, , soybeans, figs, milk and cheese.

The move comes days after the organisation outlawed peanut butter products from different producers.

On Tuesday, Nuteez, True Nuts, Fressy, Supermeal, Sue’s Natural, Zesta and Nutty by nature were termed to have exceeded the required number of aflatoxins as mandated by KEBS.

Among the lot, Nuteez, which belongs to Jetlak Foods Industries, was facing the directive for a second time.

The peanut butter was first stated unfit for human consumption in February 2019 and removed from supermarket shelves and those of all other vendors.

However, hope for Jetlak’s commodity was restored in April, when the suspension was lifted.

According to the agency, the firm had addressed the issues in reference to check of incoming raw materials, production process and final product assessment.

“KEBS shall continue to monitor the effectiveness of Jetlak Foods Ltd controls for the peanut butter product through market surveillance, factory inspections and testing,” read a part of the press release at the time.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *