Gov’t flags maize flour brand over high aflatoxin levels

The Ministry of Health has issued a warning about a local maize flour brand over high levels of aflatoxin.

The Office of the Director General for Health in a letter to public county health officers and copied to the Kenya Bureau of Standard says the Sherehe GSM maize flour is unfit for human consumption.

In the letter dated May 6, 2024, the Acting Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth warns that the flour brand has surpassed the standard requirements of aflatoxin, measured in parts per billion (ppb).

“Laboratory analysis on April 30 of Sherehe GSM maize flour with no batch number has shown that the flour contains a high level of aflatoxin above the requirements of 10.0 ppb. The level records 714 ppb,” reads the letter.

The Health Ministry has directed that all existing stock of maize flour in the local market be confiscated. Nairobi County officers have also been directed to immediately stop the milling of the maize flour and its distribution.

The ministry has also ordered intensified surveillance of all food products on the market and called for regular updates on actions taken.

Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on crops such as maize, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts.

Aflatoxin-producing fungi can contaminate crops in the field, at harvest, and during storage.

People can be exposed to aflatoxins by eating contaminated plant products or by consuming meat or dairy products from animals that eat contaminated feed.

The consumption of food containing aflatoxin concentrations of 1 milligram per kilogram or higher has been suspected to cause aflatoxicosis.

Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, excess fluid in the lungs and liver damage.

Aflatoxins are potent carcinogens and may affect all organ systems, especially the liver and kidneys; even going as far as causing liver cancer.