This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
Published on November 15, 2019, a day that will go down in history as a stark reminder of the gravity of Kenya's food safety crisis.
From poor quality cooking oil to excessive sodium metabisulfite in red meat, substandard juices, and aflatoxin in groundnuts and maize, the list of contaminated food products is endless. The question on everyone's mind is: what are the agencies responsible for food safety management doing to address this crisis?
While the Kenya Bureau of Standards has taken a step in the right direction by suspending the sale of several maize brands due to high aflatoxin levels, it has come too little, too late for many consumers who have already consumed the contaminated products.
It is clear that most food manufacturers in Kenya prioritize sales and revenues over the quality and safety of their produce. They forget that Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) legislations are crucial during preparation, processing, storage, distribution, transportation, and consumption.
Developed countries have high food safety standards, and when there is an alert, manufacturers quickly recall their products. In Kenya, most firms are more concerned about their reputation than the well-being of their customers.
It is apparent that many Kenyans lack general awareness on food safety and standards, and this is largely due to the lack of reliable, objective, and comprehensive information from concerned government agencies.
Kenya's basic laws on food safety include the Food, Drugs and Substances Act Chapter 254, Meat Control Act 316, and Public Health Act 216. However, these laws show that Kenya lacks a defined policy on food safety as part of its national food and nutrition framework.
More than one ministry is involved in food safety, and there is a bill in Parliament to separate the food safety and drug authority to strengthen the mandate of each and have an agency fully responsible for food safety management across the value chain.
It is time for Kenya to formulate a comprehensive strategy and laws on food safety to deal with modern challenges. We must also deal firmly with manufacturers who produce substandard food products, taking them to court and ensuring they pay heavily for compromising on quality.
As Eunice Kandie, a food scientist and quality assurance manager in Nairobi, notes, 'It is time we formulated a comprehensive strategy and laws on food safety to deal with the modern challenges.'
