Yesterday, an exposé carried by NTV showd that Kenyans have been consuming comtaminated maize meal and milk products.
This exposé was carried after Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) had banned 7 peanut brands and 5 maize brands for containing excessive levels of Aflatoxins.
What is aflatoxin?
Aflatoxins are poisonous carcinogens that are produced by certain molds which grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains.
Carcinogenic substance cause cancer and in this case of aflatoxins, liver is the most hit.
In 2009, the former KeBS Managing Director Kioko Mangeli warned that Kenya had imported 6,000 metric tonnes of contaminated maize. The consignment was held in Mombasa on accounts that the maize was unfit for human consumption but later, powerful politicians, notably the then Prime Minister Raila Odinga and then Agriculture Minister William Ruto influenced the releasing of the maize to millers.
Kioko Mangeli then warned that in 15 years tike, Kenyans will be dying of cancer.
‘Building cancer centres&selling cancer insurance to Kenyans will not solve the cancer tragedy as long as we are still exposed to harmful chemicals in our food &environment.Focus should be on banning these chemicals that are currently found in our food &environment’ – MissNasike
