Kenyan Standard body suspends supply of seven peanut butter brands over aflatoxins contamination

KENYA – Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the government’s standards agency has suspended seven peanut butter brands from the Kenyan market following test results undertaken by the agency which signified high level of Aflatoxin than the maximum limit allowed by the Standard.

KEBS did not indicate the extent to which each of the products had breached the legal aflatoxin levels.

However, the Kenya Standard, ‘KS EAS 60: 2013, a legal specification for peanut butter, states that the maximum total aflatoxin content, should be 15 parts per billion (ppb), and gives maximum value for aflatoxin B15 ppb maximum.

The seven products suspended are True nuts by Truenutz Kenya, Fressy by Fressy Food Company, Supa Meal by Supacosm Products, Nuteez by Jetlak Foods, Sue’s Naturals by Nature’s Way Health, Zesta by Trufoods and Nutty peanut butters by Target Distributors.

The standard body has directed the companies manufacturing the seven brands to recall all their products from the market, to discontinue from supplying them and moved on to suspend their permits.

 “We have asked the manufactures to put in place corrective actions in their processes to ensure that their products comply with the quality specifications in the standard,” read part of the statement from KEBS.

According to KEBS, once the correction is confirmed the suspension will be lifted.

“KEBS will continue to undertake surveillance of the products at the factory and market to ensure that the public is protected from harmful products,” noted KEBS in the statement.

This is the second time Nuteez manufactured by Jetlak Foods Limited is being suspended this year.

In January, the butter brand was declared not fit for human consumption after tests by the Government Chemists department confirmed a contaminated batch in Nandi County.

It was later given a clean bill of health in April. KEBS said Nuteez had been allowed to make a comeback after inspecting its facilities and ensuring measures were put in place to safeguard products for human consumption.

The manufacturing company addressed the gaps that had been identified with regard to control of incoming raw materials, production process and final product testing.