The Ministry of Health, on Tuesday, released a statement following an expose by NTV's Dennis Okari on harmful chemicals allegedly used by supermarkets to preserve meat.
In a statement to newsrooms, Health CS, Sicily Kariuki, stated that the Ministry officials had collected samples from various outlets for analysis.
"Our attention has been drawn to the NTV investigative report on how supermarkets and butcheries use chemicals to 'preserve' meat. The Ministry of Health has collected random samples from various outlets for analysis at the National Public Health Laboratories.
"The results of the analysis will be shared with the public immediately they are out," she stated.
The CS further directed all county public health departments to undertake heightened surveillance in all supermarkets, butcheries, meat processors and other food business operators to ascertain any presence of additives not permitted for use in meat and meat products.
She noted that Sodium metabisulfite, the chemical referenced in the documentary, was a food additive permitted for use in specified food categories, however, it was not permitted in meat and meat products, including poultry and game meat.
Kariuki also directed county governments to scale up and prioritize implementation of public health measures that are aimed to safeguard the public health safety of the population.
"These measures include: food safety, management of sewage and wastewater; pollution control; surveillance on the safety of drinking water and prevention of all types of public health nuisances. In addition to these measures, they are directed to firmly enforce the existing laws," part of the statement read.
In the investigative feature that aired on Sunday, Okari spoke to a supermarket attendant, who disclosed that sometimes, meat was laced with food sulphites, also referred to as dawa ya nyama, to make it appear fresh longer.
“Meat shouldn’t get spoilt in the supermarket. It is considered a loss. We try to minimise losses by using the chemicals on fresh, minced and diced beef,” the anonymous attendant told the journalist.
Here is the statement by the Health CS Sicily Kariuki:
