KEBS Suspends 10 Cooking Oil Brands Over Quality Concerns

By Jane Muia / Published September 23, 2022 | 2:19 pm

KEY POINTS

"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 added.

Pouring food oil in hot pan for deep frying.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

This is not the first time the standard body is recalling consumable products. In August last year, KEBS banned the sale of 27 brands of meal flour citing a lack of compliance with the standardized requirements by the regulators.

Pembe, Family, and Tupike were among the maize meal flour brands that were banned.

The Kenya Bureau of standards (KEBS) has temporarily suspended 10 brands of cooking oil for not meeting the required standards.

The ten include; Bahari Fry, Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri with Garlic Oil, Fry Mate, Gold, Pure Olive Gold, Postman, Rina, Salit, Tilly, and Top Fry.

Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)’s Director for Market Surveillance Peter Kaigwara said the brands have not been banned but will be removed from the markets and undergo verification before being restocked.

“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.

According to KEBS, the move is aimed at protecting consumers from potential harm, safeguarding the interests of manufacturers who have complied with the standards, and allowing the manufacturers of the affected brands to comply as directed under its supervision.

KEBS undertakes inspections in factories and market surveillance to check on the quality of products sold to the public. The standards body must confirm all corrective actions before production and sales resume.

“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 added.

Pembe, Family, and Tupike were among the maize meal flour brands that were banned.