Kenya still selling Indomie despite health concerns

Indomie noodles are still on Kenyan shelves one week after a regional watchdog raised concerns that some of the products may be laded with aflatoxin. A spot-check by Business Hub over the period revealed that products are still in the shelves and some shopkeepers are still restocking.

Despite not being clear on why the products were not recalled until their safety is ascertained, Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director Bernard Njiraini maintained that they are still working on the “report” “We are at an advanced stage to conclude the report,” he told Business hub yesterday.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Competition Commission had warned that Indomie chicken and vegetable-flavoured instant noodles chili packs may be containing higher levels of aflatoxins and pesticide residues in quantities that exceeded safe limits.

In Egypt, some 733,340 cartons of different Indomie flavours were withdrawn from the Egyptian market by the supplier. Despite the warning the products have continued to be consumed by unknowing customers as the standard body failed to recall any of the products until tests prove that they are safe. According to Kenya Poisons Board guidelines: If controls and examinations result in reasonable suspicions that a product does not meet the relevant requirements, the department of the Board dealing with Inspections may issue a notice to withhold the trade in certain lots of a product within the inspector’s area of operations.

Expressed concern

The Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) had already expressed concern with the matter and asked the supermarkets to pull out all the stock currently on the shelves until they are confirmed to be safe.

“We urge all responsible supermarkets and other retailers of indomie to voluntarily get the product off the shelf for a couple of weeks as tests are conducted,” Stephen Mutoro Cofek told Business Hub on phone

 – Jacktone Lawi