KEBS allays fears over ban of Indomie noodles in Egypt

Summary

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) assures the public that there is no cause for concern regarding the safety of Indomie instant noodles, despite recalls in Egypt and Rwanda due to pesticide and aflatoxin contamination. KEBS is conducting thorough tests on local samples, including pesticide and aflatoxin levels. Preliminary results suggest no violations of safety standards. The products in Kenya are locally manufactured and sourced with some imported ingredients. KEBS will release a final report soon, but insists there is no immediate danger to consumers. If issues arise, the products could be withdrawn from the market.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) assures there is no cause for alarm regarding the safety of Indomie instant noodles in Kenya despite recent recalls in other countries.
• 😀 KEBS is conducting tests on 94 instant noodle samples, focusing on pesticide residues and aflatoxins, to ensure their safety for local consumers.
• 😀 The tests were prompted by recalls in Egypt, where certain flavors of Indomie noodles were found to contain excessive aflatoxins and pesticide residues.
• 😀 KEBS maintains that there is no connection between the recalled products in Egypt and the products sold in Kenya.
• 😀 KEBS has clarified that Kenya imports raw materials for local manufacturing of Indomie noodles, but does not import the specific products recalled in Egypt.
• 😀 Rwanda has also banned some Indomie products due to similar safety concerns, as they import noodles from Kenya.
• 😀 Ghana has initiated testing of Indomie noodles after recent recalls in other countries and warned against consuming products with unregistered logos.
• 😀 Preliminary testing in Kenya has shown that the levels of aflatoxins in the noodles are within acceptable limits.
• 😀 Pesticide testing results are still pending, with each sample requiring several hours to analyze due to the large number of pesticides being tested.
• 😀 KEBS will issue a final report in the next week, and if the results show any significant issues, they will consider withdrawing the products from shelves.

Q & A

What action did the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) take regarding instant noodles under the Indomie label?

KEBS conducted safety tests on Indomie instant noodles after concerns arose regarding excess pesticide residues and aflatoxins. They received 94 samples for testing from their market surveillance team.

What were the primary safety concerns raised in countries like Egypt and Rwanda regarding Indomie instant noodles?

The main safety concerns were excess pesticide residues and aflatoxins. Egypt recalled several flavors of Indomie instant noodles, while Rwanda also banned them due to similar concerns.

Which specific flavors of Indomie instant noodles were recalled in Egypt?

The chicken, chili, and vegetable flavors of Indomie were recalled in Egypt due to high quantities of aflatoxins and pesticide residues.

How is KEBS ensuring the safety of Indomie instant noodles in Kenya?

KEBS is conducting tests for pesticide residues and aflatoxins at their biochemical testing laboratory. They are analyzing a variety of samples to ensure the products meet safety standards.

How long is KEBS expected to take to complete the safety testing of the noodles?

KEBS plans to complete the testing within four days. However, testing for pesticide residues is time-consuming, with each sample taking about four hours to process.

What did KEBS find in the preliminary test results for aflatoxins in the noodles?

The preliminary results for aflatoxins were promising, with no excess levels beyond the required limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb).

Why is pesticide residue testing considered difficult and time-consuming?

Pesticide residue testing involves testing for a wide range of pesticides—around 80 in one sample—which requires extensive time and resources to complete.

What potential health risks are associated with excessive pesticide residues in food products?

Excessive pesticide residues can lead to acute poisoning, long-term health effects like cancer, and adverse impacts on reproduction, according to the World Health Organization.

What is the potential consequence if KEBS finds harmful levels of toxins in the noodles?

If harmful levels of toxins are detected, KEBS will be forced to withdraw the affected products from the market within the next week.

What stance has KEBS taken regarding the safety of Indomie instant noodles in Kenya despite the concerns from other countries?

KEBS has assured that there is no cause for alarm, and they emphasize that there is no connection between the recalled products in Egypt and those sold in Kenya. The final report will confirm the safety of the noodles.