KEBS raises alarm after contaminated rice released into the market

Kenyans could be consuming contaminated rice, after it emerged that a consignment totaling 2 million kilograms which had been declared unfit for human consumption was diverted into the market.

Documents obtained from the Kenya Bureau of Standrds (KEBS), shows that the rice that was imported from Pakistan in September and October had failed the aflatoxin tests as it contained higher level than locally permissible.

Despite the standards body's declaration that the rice was unfit, only a fraction was intercepted, with millions of kilogrammes sneaked into the market thereby exposing Kenyans to health risks.

According to the documents, 83,200 bags of rice were imported by Gama Food Traders Ltd, and shipped through the Indian Ocean to the Port of Mombasa.

The first consignment was released from Pakistan on 29th September this year and a second consignment was released from Karachi in Pakistan on Mashujaa Day.

When the rice docked in Mombasa, a total of 2,080 tonnes of rice were released from Kilindini to Nairobi.

According to records, this rice consignment was released from the port without certificates of conformity at the point of entry.

When KEBS established that the contaminated rice was in circulation, market surveillance officers moved into action but only seized 23 tonnes, with the remaining 2,057 tonnes of the poisonous rice flooding the Kenyan market, exposing consumers to danger.

The fraction of that consignment was seized at Anytime Ltd at Central Business Park Road in Industrial Area.

Upon tests at the KEBS lab, results showed that the rice in the market contained high levels of aflatoxin that is unfit for human consumption.

The tests showed 11.54 levels of aflatoxin per kg against a recommended maximum level of 5.0 per kg.

Attempts by KEBS to recall the contaminated rice from the market did not bear fruits with only 5,300 kgs of polla biryani rice and 6,000 kgs of kuku biryani rice recovered.

For the last two months unsuspecting Kenyans could have been buying the contaminated rice in the market, and with the festive season kicking in, more Kenyans could be exposed to the dangerous rice.