Nairobi’s food safety has been called into question as the discovery of expired foodstuffs being sold in local shops continues to increase.
During a police raid at a go-down in Embakasi, Nairobi County Assembly Health Chairman Maurice Ochieng revealed that the owner of the facility was repackaging expired foodstuffs, including maize flour, wheat flour, and cooking ingredients, and supplying them to various shops.
Ochieng urged Nairobi residents to be cautious when purchasing foodstuff, noting that many products were approaching their expiry date and could be harmful if consumed.
He appealed to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to conduct an audit of all foodstuff being sold in shops and retail centres to prevent Kenyans from consuming expired products.
Police officers who participated in the raid apprehended workers at the facility and are currently tracking down the business owner who was on the run.
The owner had been using machines and stickers to change the dates on foodstuffs, making it difficult for consumers to determine their shelf life.
Kenyans were advised to check the expiry dates on foodstuffs and use the standardisation mark by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to authenticate whether a product is genuine.
This can be done by sending an SMS of the standardization mark and permit number, which is typically located under the KEBS logo, to 20023.
KEBS will respond with details on the brand, manufacturer, date the permit was issued, and the expiry date.
The government has put business owners on notice, stating that those found with unregistered products or products without a shelf life will be arraigned in court.
The health and safety of Nairobi residents are of utmost importance, and the government will take all necessary measures to ensure that they are protected.
