This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
On July 14, 2019, NTV aired a documentary titled Red Alert, which sparked public outcry by alleging that local supermarkets in Kenya were selling meat laced with harmful chemicals to unsuspecting customers.
Naivas supermarket and Carrefour Kenya separately issued statements on July 16, 2019, distancing themselves from the claims, stating that they use preservatives to make meat look fresh and last longer.
Naivas took journalists on a tour of their storage facilities, located at their distribution centre on Mombasa road, to confirm that they do not use chemicals in meat. According to Naivas' chief commercial officer, Willy Kimani, the supermarket does not condone or encourage the use of any chemical substances to preserve meat sold in their butcheries across all 53 stores.
Carrefour Kenya also assured its customers and the general public that their meat and meat products are safe and that they neither use nor tolerate chemicals to extend the shelf life of meat or any other food item in their stores.
Carrefour emphasized that the health and well-being of their customers remain a key priority, and they apply international hygiene standards to guarantee food safety to all customers. They also stated that all their food items have defined shelf life that is fully adhered to, and they have an efficient traceability system that allows them to remove meat from their display units before expiry.
