KEBS orders withdrawal of ‘unfit’ edible oil samples

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has ordered a recall of 10 edible oil and cooking fat brands due to non-compliance with set standards.

The brandS flagged for non-compliance include Bahari Fry, Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri with Garlic Oil, Fry Mate, Gold n Pure Olive Gold, Postman, Rina, Salit, Tilly and Top Fry.

KEBS said it sent out individual letters to the affected manufacturers on September 9 and subsequently to the Retail Traders Association of Kenya (RETRAK) on Wednesday this week.

“Through the communication received so far at KEBS, the industry has confirmed that they have initiated corrective action including recall of the affected batches, extent analysis by testing their other brands plus the affected brands using KEBS labs, and other external accredited labs, and isolation/quarantine of all the affected batches,” KEBS said in a statement on Friday.

KEBS had held a daylong meeting with edible oil and cooking fat manufacturers on Friday from which the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) committed to ensure that only compliant products from their membership will be released into the market.

Nevertheless, KEBS clarified the flagging of the brands did not amount to a ban but was a temporary suspension to be lifted once appropriate corrective action is undertaken and verified.

KEBS and the manufacturers lobby say they will form a technical committee that will be responding to similar issues in the future.