Unregulated use of preservatives in meat products must be probed-LSK

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BY JOAN WANJIKU,NAIROBI,16TH JULY 2019-In a wake of revelations of poorly and unhygienic storage of meat in the country,  the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is now calling  for an investigation and prompt action against supermarkets, butcheries and abattoirs found to be risking the health of consumers by using harmful chemicals to preserve meat products they sell.

Chief Executive Officer Mercy Wambua  in a statement on Tuesday ,said Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) needs to continuously monitor products and services produced or offered in the country to ensure they conform to the set standards.

“The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), established under the Standards Act, has a core mandate under Section 4 (1) (b) to make arrangements or provide facilities for the examination and testing of commodities and any material or substance from or with which and the manner in which they may be manufactured, produced, processed or treated,” read a part of the statement.

“Section 10 of the Standards Act, provides for standardization marks for locally produced and imported goods being consumed in the Country. To acquire the mark, manufactured goods are expected to meet quality requirements as specified in the various Kenya/Approved Standards. A permit to use standardization mark is issued to certify that a particular product conforms to requirements in a Standard.”

She added  that sale of meat laced with preservatives by supermarkets and any other meat sale points  is illegal, unconstitutional and gravely endangers lives of the members of the public.

The society   was responding to reports that some supermarkets have been using sodium metabisulphite to preserve meat products.

Wambua was reacting to an exposé which aired on NTV showing how supermarkets across the country are using sodium metabisulphite to preserve meat for sale in their butchery sections.

When used the chemicals potentially  makes  the meat, which ranges from beef, chicken, fish and mutton; appear fresh for longer periods to appeal to unsuspecting customers.