The 10 cooking oil brands suspended by KEBS
Kebs said the suspension was to bring to attention to the public and stop them from purchasing substandard products
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has revealed that they havve suspended 10 brands of edible fats and cooking oil which they said are unfit for consumption.
The 10 include; Bahari Fry, Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri with Garlic Oil, Fry Mate, Gold and Pure Olive Gold, Postman, Rina, Salit, Tilly and Top Fry.
Peter Kaigwara, Director for Market Surveillance at KEBS, wrote to the Retail Traders Association of Kenya (RETRAK) and emphasised that it wasn't a ban on the products but a temporary suspension.
“Kindly note that this is not a ban on the brands but a temporary suspension to allow the manufacturers of the non-compliant brands to initiate and put in place effective corrective action under KEGS supervision to ensure that the non-compliant brands comply with the requirements of the respective Kenya Standards and Standards Act Cap 496, Laws of Kenya before being allowed back into the market,” read the letter in part.
RETRAK was tasked by KEBS to see that the goods are removed from the shelf in all stores until compliance has been attained.
“The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention the below listed brands of non-compilant edible oils and fats that failed to meet the requirements of the standard and to request your good office to notify your members to recall these brands and remove them from the supply chain from your members outlets across the country,” the letter read.
Peter Kaigwara added that they recently sampled and analysed brands of edible fats and oils manufactured by various oil refineries in Kenya.
"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.
KEBS explained that it was also to safeguard economic interests of manufactures of the non compliant brands to initiate and put in place effective and corrective actions under Kebs supervision.
He added the withdrawn products should undergo verification by KEBS before being placed back to the shelves.