Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, on Thursday, closed down meat sections of six supermarkets around the City.
The county resorted to the closure after lab tests showed excessive presence of food additives in packaged meat from the retail outlets.
In a statement from the governor's communications officer, the samples indicated that the meat contained 63,000 milligrams per kilogram of Sodium Metabisulphite preservative, against a required limit of 500 milligrams per kilogram.
Sonko further directed county health officers to intensify the crackdown and ensure consumers are protected from unscrupulous traders.
“I have directed the county health officers to conduct daily inspections in all meat eateries so that we protect Nairobi residents from consuming poisonous food,” he stated.
Key officials from the six supermarkets will, therefore, be arraigned in court to face charges of endangering human life.
On July 14, the government, through the Ministry of Health, collected samples of meat from the supermarkets after an explosive exposé by NTV journalist Dennis Okari revealed harmful chemicals allegedly used by supermarkets to preserve meat.
"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," Health CS, Sicily Kariuki, stated at the time.
Kariuki has since directed all county public health officials to undertake surveillance in all supermarkets, butcheries, meat processors and other food business operators to ascertain any presence additives not permitted use in meat and meat products.
