The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has come out to quell concerns after Kenya was listed among countries at risk of methanol poisoning linked to counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 22, KEBS clarified that all methanol in the country was denatured using a specific compound known as denatonium benzoate, which makes it unbearably bitter and impossible to ingest.
According to KEBS, denaturing methanol was a mandatory safety procedure designed to prevent its misuse in the production of illicit alcohol; since it makes the taste extremely bitter, the compound cannot be consumed directly as a substitute for actual alcohol.
“Denatonium benzoate is the bitterest chemical compound known - even in small quantities, it makes methanol impossible to swallow,” KEBS stated.
KEBS further explained that only methanol meant strictly for laboratory use was exempt from the process, and all other grades, whether local or imported, must contain not less than 8 parts per million (ppm) of denatonium benzoate to meet safety standards.
The agency further assured the public that methanol approved for industrial use in the country cannot be confused with drinkable alcohol due to its deliberate chemical alteration.
Standards for guiding methanol regulation include KS 2471:2013 (industrial use), KS 2582-1:2014 (safety code), KS 2583:2014 (testing of denatonium benzoate), and KS 2584:2018 (safe transport of hazardous goods).
KS, in this case, stands for Kenya Standard, while the subsequent number represents a specific standard and the year it was published or last updated.
The guidelines are critical in ensuring every consignment of methanol is thoroughly tested before being cleared for industrial or commercial use.
This includes compliance checks and certification to prevent any possibility of public harm.
Public concern may have been triggered by unlawful alcohol products which are falsely presented as safe for consumption. KEBS, however, insist that these products were not linked to regulated methanol.
For purposes of precaution, the agency urged members of the public to report suspicious alcohol products, particularly those with unusual packaging and taste.
