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Senators summon Kebs bosses over suspension of edible oil brands

In September, the agency recalled the brands from the shelves, triggering protests from retailers

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by The Star

News24 October 2022 - 16:08
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In Summary


  • Kebs listed Bahari Fry, Gold in Pure Olive Gold oils, Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri with Garlic, and Salit.
  • Others were Rina oils, Tilly cooking fat, Top Fri oil, Postman, and Rina oils. The products are produced by Bidco Africa, Pwani Oil, Kapa Oil, and Menengai manufacturers.
Esther Ngari with Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Chief Administrative Secretary David Osiany after her appointment on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

The top management of the Kenya Bureau of Standards will face senators over the abrupt suspension of 10 brands of edible oil and cooking fat.

Acting managing director Esther Ngari will lead her team to the Senate Health committee chaired by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago to explain their sudden action.

In September, the agency recalled the brands from the shelves, triggering protests from retailers who were forced to incur huge losses.

Last week, the issue came up in the senate with the lawmakers demanding answers from the agency’s management.

“Kebs should explain the order for the recall of edible oil products from several manufacturers of over 10 brands that were already on shopping,” Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said.

Cherargei wants Kebs to explain the extent to which each of the products breached set standards.

They will also state the stage at which the agency discovered the products as substandard.

Kebs listed Bahari Fry, Gold in Pure Olive Gold oils, Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri with Garlic, and Salit.

Others were Rina oils, Tilly cooking fat, Top Fri oil and Postman.

The products are produced by Bidco Africa, Pwani Oil, Kapa Oil, and Menengai manufacturers.

“The brands of none compliant edible fats and oils that failed to meet the requirements of the standard, and to request your good office to request your members to recall these brands and remove them from the supply chain from your members' outlets across the country,” Kebs had said in a statement.

“Note this is not a ban on the brands but a temporary suspension to facilitate the protection of consumers from potentially unsafe products.” 

Kebs director for market surveillance Peter Kaigwara said they recently sampled and analysed brands of edible fats and oils manufactured by various oil refineries in Kenya.

He said it was in the interest of and to fulfil its mandate of protecting the health and economic welfare of consumers and ensuring a level playing field.

“The samples were drawn from the retail outlets and were assessed against the requirements of the standard acts and the respective product standard KS EAS 769:KS 2019 fortified edible and fats- specification,” he said.

Senators want Kebs to state and explain any plans to compensate retailers who were affected by its action to recall the products.

“They must tell us whether there is anything they are doing to compensate retailers by their action,” Cherargei said.

Ngari will outline to the senators the process of standardisation of products, especially oil products.

This will be in reference to the standards specification requires to be met in all fortified oil and fats, given that the said products are sensitive and are consumed by the general public.

“Kebs should state the measures if any, that it has put in place to facilitate the protection of consumers from potentially unsafe products and to safeguard the economic interests of manufacturers,” Cherargei said.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris

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