Kenya Dairy Board Cracks Down on Illicit Milk Trade, Uncovers Potential Adulteration
Source: The DairyNews
The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has seized illegal powdered milk valued at Sh35.67 million, exposing potential adulteration with maize flour by dishonest traders. The crackdown targeted unregistered traders, revealing a worrying trend of compromising the safety and quality of dairy products.
In an official statement, the Board disclosed that the confiscated items included 655 25-kilogram bags of full cream spray-dried milk powder lacking proper importation documents from a wholesaler on Nairobi's Eastern Bypass in August of the previous year.
Additionally, the agency impounded 150 25kg bags of full cream milk powder from unregistered traders at Kamakis last week. Another 422 25kg bags were seized from a different location in Kamakis.
Of particular concern was the discovery of a substantial quantity of corn starch bags, powder mixing equipment, and packaging materials at one facility. This raised alarms about potential adulteration aimed at increasing milk powder quantity to boost sales. The Board stated, "If proven true by the ongoing lab analysis, this constitutes serious adulteration, fraud, and consumer deceit."
Further inspections revealed that the premises used for mixing and packaging were unhygienic and lacked essential sanitary facilities, including water. This crackdown is part of a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi expressed concern about the persistence of illegal importation of dairy products despite government efforts to facilitate legal and secure trade through harmonization and automation of business processes.
Additionally, the agency impounded 150 25kg bags of full cream milk powder from unregistered traders at Kamakis last week. Another 422 25kg bags were seized from a different location in Kamakis.
Of particular concern was the discovery of a substantial quantity of corn starch bags, powder mixing equipment, and packaging materials at one facility. This raised alarms about potential adulteration aimed at increasing milk powder quantity to boost sales. The Board stated, "If proven true by the ongoing lab analysis, this constitutes serious adulteration, fraud, and consumer deceit."
Further inspections revealed that the premises used for mixing and packaging were unhygienic and lacked essential sanitary facilities, including water. This crackdown is part of a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi expressed concern about the persistence of illegal importation of dairy products despite government efforts to facilitate legal and secure trade through harmonization and automation of business processes.
