Tetema among 17 maize meal brands withdrawn from shelves

The Kenya Bureau of Standards has ordered the withdrawal of 17 brands of maize meal from the market including Dola and Tetema.

This is due to high aflatoxin levels which make them unsafe for human consumption, KEBS said on Wednesday.

KEBS has ordered immediate withdrawal of the maize meal brands from retail outlets warning that failure to do so could lead to legal action.

The brands are:

• Dola by Eldoret Grain Millers
• Tetema by Eldoret Grains Limited
• African king by African Kings maize millers
• Unique by Ndosha Limited
• Mlo by Bidii 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
• Hakika Best by Halisi Maize Millers
• 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
• Sungura by Sungura Unga Millers

This is not the first time that Dola has been withdrawn from the market.

Dola and Kifaru maize flours were among five suspended by KEBS on November 9, 2019.

Permits for the companies that produce the two brands  were also suspended alongside Starehe (Pan African Grain Millers); 210 Two Ten (Kenblest Limited) and Jembe (Kensal Rise Limited).

At the time, KEBS said the suspension followed market surveillance and multiple complaints from the public.

However, 11 days later, KEBS lifted the suspension for Dola and Kifaru saying the manufacturers had met approved quality standards.