The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has raised alarm over heavy presence of drug residues, including antibiotics, pesticides and preservatives in milk.
According to KDB Voi Branch Manager Kaberia Muriungi, the samples tested over the past year showed much of the milk is unfit for human consumption.
He stated that the presence of chemicals in milk was largely due to failure of farmers to observe withdrawal periods after their cattle had been treated.
[caption caption="Dairy Cows"]
[/caption]
“Most samples we have tested have shown a presence of aflatoxins and preservatives, which are health hazards.
"We have also noticed the presence of stress hormones in milk because animals are not being taken care of properly.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that we are consuming milk with high contents of these hormones," stated Mr Muriungi during a workshop in Voi.
Shockingly, some of the drug residues found in raw milk included; detergents, disinfectants, pesticides and hydrogen peroxide.
The KDB boss added that some farmers were just after money and others were going to extents of adding wheat flour and water to increase the quantity of milk they supply.
He, however, assured consumers that the quality of milk in Kenya is fairly good though it is yet to attain the required standards.
According to Wumingu Milk Cooling Plant unit supervisor Daniel Nyongesa, over 30,000litres of milk has been rejected recently over quality concerns.
[caption caption="A Glass of Milk"]
[/caption]
