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Article

11 Nov 2019

Author:
Collins Omulo, Daily Nation (Kenya)

Millers question laboratory tests used by govt. agency to condemn five maize flour brands

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"Millers query Kebs' standards after ban on 5 maize flour brands"

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) is facing criticism by the five maize millers whose licences its suspended on Saturday over high aflatoxin levels in their products. Kebs on Saturday banned sale of Dola by Kitui Four Mills, Kifaru by Alpha Grain Limited, Starehe by Pan African Grain Millers, 210 Two Ten by Kenblest Limited and Jembe by Kensal Rise Limited. This is until the companies take corrective measures to meet Kenya's standards.

On Sunday, Kitui Four questioned the test results and claimed that its internal auditing and tests from external laboratories showed different results. General Manager Abdalla Said further said results differ based on the laboratories used so the "unilateral finding" that informed Kebs' statement cannot be relied upon. He said the finding contradicts reports from several other independent tests, which he said showed an acceptable aflatoxin level of 1.5 parts per billion (ppb) in their product against the maximum limit of 10 ppb by Kenya's standards. “We were taken aback by the notice issued by Kebs, which claims our product has failed the standardisation test," he said...

The Cereal Millers Association also decried the ban, saying it did not understand the laboratory parameters Kebs used to test the affected brands. “Test results for aflatoxins differ from laboratory to laboratory,” said the miller's chairperson, Mr Mohamed Islam. “Therefore, we would like to take time to understand Kebs’ methodology of testing for aflatoxins and compare it with our own independent tests, which we do from time to time."