This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
On November 4th, 2019, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) issued a product recall on seven peanut butter brands due to high aflatoxin levels.
The recalled brands include True Nuts, Fressy, Supa Meal, Nuteez, Sue's Naturals, Zesta, and Nutty by Nature.
According to a statement released by KEBS, the companies have been instructed to stop manufacturing the substandard products immediately and implement corrective actions to ensure compliance with quality standards.
This is not the first time peanut butter batches with excessive aflatoxin levels have been recalled. In January, Nuteez was recalled for the same reason, only to be cleared in April in unclear circumstances.
Aflatoxin is a natural toxin produced by certain molds that can be found in peanuts and other cereals. Consuming large doses of aflatoxin can lead to acute poisoning (aflatoxicosis), which can be life-threatening and cause liver damage.
As Government Chemist John Kibuthi noted in January, 'Aflatoxin is a natural product and is poisonous. We could consume it in all kinds of cereals, and so the level in our country has to be different based on what we consume... It may seem little, but it can be lethal.'
