More peanut butter brands pulled down

Nandi County officials inspect Jetlak's Nuteez peanut butter that was pulled off supermarket shelves in the county last week. [Courtesy]

More peanut butter brands have been recalled from the market after being found to contain aflatoxin content much higher than recommended levels.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) yesterday directed the makers of Clovers and Mother Nature’s peanut butter to cease manufacture of the products and recall batches from distributors.

“In the last seven months, Kebs has been undertaking market surveillance of peanut butter. Fifty-four samples of peanut butter have been collected from various points of sale and manufacturers from 1st July, 2018 to date and tested,” said Acting Managing Director Bernard Nguyo in a statement.

Nuteez peanut butter, manufactured by Jetlak Foods, was last week recalled from the market after tests requested by the Nandi County Government found it contained 25 parts per billion (ppb) of aflotoxin.

The firm, however, defended its products, saying it adhered to quality standards and had not received any indication from the Government that its products were unsafe.

Mr Nguyo said in the Jetlak case, it had inspected the factory and seized all its products and directed the manufacturer to also cease further production.

“Tests undertaken on the samples have confirmed that the level of aflatoxin is 25ppb, which is higher than the maximum limit allowed by the standard,” said Nguyo

Yesterday, Kebs said the peanut butter brands in question were found to have exceeded the maximum limit for aflatoxins pegged at 15ppb, leading to their permits being suspended.

“Manufacturers whose product permits have been suspended are instructed to discontinue the manufacturing or offering for sale of all substandard peanut butter,” said Kebs.

“Additionally, the manufacturers should recall all the substandard products and institute corrective actions.”

However, the regulator fell short of recommending investigations or subsequent prosecutions of manufacturers found to have broken the law despite exposing millions of Kenyans to aflotoxins in the listed peanut butter brands. Aflotoxins are poisonous compounds produced by fungi that accumulate in several crops, including maize, peanuts and some milk products, that arise from improper handling or storage of harvested produce.

Prolonged exposure to high levels of aflotoxins can cause liver and kidney diseases as well as cancer.

Players in the dairy industry have also expressed concern that poor processing and handling of animal feed led to high levels of aflatoxin in milk and meat products. Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimutai said last week the Ministry of Agriculture was working on a law to bring the animal feed industry under regulation.

He said the planned Bill was part of a broader National Livestock Policy to govern the livestock industry.

The proposed law, he said, would create standards for producers to adhere to in sourcing raw materials for animal feeds and appropriate storage facilities.