The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), has suspended ten brands of edible oil and fats for failing to fulfill the acceptable health standards.
The ten include; Bahari Fry, Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri with Garlic Oil, Fry Mate, Gold and Pure Olive Gold, Postman, Rina, Salit, Tilly and Top Fry.
In a letter to the Retail Traders Association of Kenya (RETRAK) by KEBS Director for Market Surveillance Peter Kaigwara, the organization said the measure was not a ban on the brands, but rather a temporary suspension to facilitate consumer protection from potentially harmful products and to protect producers’ economic interests.
“Kindly note that this is not a ban on the brands but a temporary suspension to allow the manufacturers of the non-compliant brands to initiate and put in place effective corrective action under KEGS supervision to ensure that the non-compliant brands comply with the requirements of the respective Kenya Standards and Standards Act Cap 496, Laws of Kenya before being allowed back into the market,” read the letter in part.
KEBS asked RETRAK to ensure that the products are taken off the shelves in all outlets until compliance has been achieved.
“The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention the below listed brands of non-compilant edible oils and fats that failed to meet the requirements of the standard and to request your good office to notify your members to recall these brands and remove them from the supply chain from your members outlets across the country,” the letter read.
KEBS further stated that the withdrawn products would be subjected to verification before being restocked.
Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK), an independent consumer protection organization, has encouraged consumers to stop using the aforementioned items.
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