Roasted peanuts, popularly known as njugu, are now under the spotlight after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) discovered large quantities being sold without proper certification.
The nuts were among several unsafe food and animal products seized during an intense market crackdown across Karen, Ngong Town, and Kiserian on Friday, July 25.
KEBS officials intensified their surveillance operations, targeting unregulated products being sold to the public. Among the items confiscated were roasted groundnuts, brown sugar, dog food, and various types of animal feeds.
According to KEBS, these products were found unfit for both human and animal consumption due to the lack of a Standardisation Mark (SM)—a crucial label that proves the goods have passed mandatory quality and safety checks.
In a detailed statement, KEBS revealed that the seized groundnuts had no traceable manufacturing information, making it impossible to track where or how they were processed. These popular street snacks, often sold in areas like Nairobi’s Central Business District, now pose a serious health risk to unsuspecting consumers.
The KEBS enforcement team also targeted animal feed distributors, many of whom were found selling feed products in bulk without the required SM certification.
Officials warned that feeding livestock with substandard feed could severely affect animal health and compromise the safety of the entire food chain in Kenya.
Equally alarming was the seizure of uncertified brown sugar, which, according to KEBS, may contain harmful impurities like excessive moisture or dangerous additives.
These can lead to long-term health issues if consumed regularly. Without traceability, there’s no way to confirm if such sugar meets hygiene standards or contains safe ingredients.
The bureau emphasized that this crackdown is part of a broader effort to remove harmful and uncertified goods from Kenyan markets and protect the health of consumers and livestock alike.
KEBS is now urging all Kenyans to be vigilant about the products they purchase. Consumers are advised to look out for the Standardisation Mark (SM) before buying any product. To confirm authenticity, they can text the SM code to 20023 or call the KEBS toll-free number 1545 to report suspicious goods.
With safety on the line, KEBS is calling on all citizens to play their part in ensuring only certified, high-quality products remain on store shelves and in open markets.
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