This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
On July 23, 2019, a disturbing report by NTV exposed the use of toxic chemicals in some Kenyan supermarkets to keep meat fresh, putting consumers' health at risk.
The chemicals, including sodium Metabisulphate, can cause serious health side effects such as nasal congestion, itchy throat, and running nose.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has been criticized for its failure to ensure food safety, with the recent incident being the latest in a series of similar cases.
Just a year ago, authorities seized over 1,000 bags of illegally imported sugar that posed serious health risks to the public.
Interior Secretary Fred Matiang'i revealed that harmful and highly toxic levels of mercury and copper were found in samples tested from the sugar seized in the Eastleigh area.
Kebs' failure to ensure food safety has led to a worrying trend, with consumers being misled into believing that products with a Kebs label are safe for consumption.
Many Kenyans are now questioning whether the institution should be abolished or reconstructed.
The recent closure of six meat retailer shops by the Nairobi County Government is a knee-jerk reaction to a situation that could have been avoided with proper vigilance and inspection.
Effective and efficient surveillance of the food chain process from production to consumption is the most urgent way forward for Kenyans.
