Following the announcement of the first case of Coronavirus
in the country last week, manufacturers of the now in-demand hand sanitisers
knew they would make a kill.
Kenyans rushed to supermarkets to stock up on the sanitisers
as some suspected a lockdown and a spot check around popular malls showed
shoppers picking as many as eight at a go.
This led some supermarkets to introduce a limited purchase
policy on the sanitisers, instructing buyers to only pick three packets.
As expected, there was increased demand for the products and this forced some manufacturers to burn the midnight oil in a bid to capitalize on the ‘opportunity.’
Unfortunately, some tried to beat the system by producing
substandard products and quickly releasing them into the market out of greed.
As a result, the market was flooded with both genuine and
fake sanistisers.
How to check whether
the one you are using is fake
Although the government has encouraged hand washing and sanitization
to help curb the spread of Coronavirus, using the wrong product might put you
at risk.
Sanitisers and wipes contain antiseptic agents used to cleanse hands when soap and water are not available and they offer protection by preventing or reducing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that can cause infections.
It is important to note that the Kenya Bureau of Standards
certifies sanitisers based on the following specifications:
That said, to check whether the sanitiser you are using is genuine, follow these steps:
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If the details are different, report to KEBS toll-free number 1545.
On Thursday KEBS released
names of the hand sanitisers that have not the minimum requirements and warned
Kenyans against buying them.
They were: