The Kenya Bureau of Standards has ordered the withdrawal of 17 brands of maize meal from the market due to high level of aflatoxin.
KEBS said the brands which include Dola, African King and Mlo were unfit for human consumption.
Other 14 maize meal brands that were ordered to be removed from shelves include;
Dola by Eldoret Grain Millers, Tetema by Eldoret Grains Limited, City Corn Maize Meal by Central Afya, Bora Maize Millers, Sarafina Maize Meal by Century Millers, Tosha Maize Meal by Godmesa Foods and Allied limited, Ahiba Maize Meal by Grango Suba Millers and Hakika Best by Halisi Maize Millers.
Others include; Budget Maize Meal by Karibu Flour Mills, Wema Maize Meal by Luma Millers Limited, Jomba by Machakos Millers, Adardere Mupa by Mbaitu Maize Milling, Afya by Meru Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Uzima by Sigose Farm Company Limited and Sungura by Sungura Unga Millers.
The government has ordered for the immediate withdrawal of the maize meal brands from retail outlets failure to which they could lead to legal action.
In November 2019, Dola and Kifaru were among the maize meal products which were ordered to clear their products from retail market after the government cited a high level of aflatoxin in the product.
“Following continued market surveillance as well as multiple public reports, KEBS has noted that some brands of maize meal products (Unga wa Ugali) offered for sale do not meet the requirements of Kenya Standards.” Said KEBS.
Business permits for companies which produce two brands were suspended alongside Starehe (Pan African Grain Millers); 210 Two Ten (Kenblest Limited) and Jembe (Kensal Rise Limited).
But the ban on permits was later lifted after KEBS affirmed that they had met required quality standards.
