Millers maintain NCPB maize unfit for human use
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CMA also rejected claims that NCPB was selling contaminated maize saying they had not found evidence of any maize consignment that contained aflatoxin.
“NCPB has different grades of maize, some suitable for human consumption and others for animal feeds. NCPB maize is sometimes discoloured as is the nature of maize grain but it does not contain aflatoxins,” he said.
Large scale maize millers Wednesday continued to reject large quantities of maize sourced from National Cereals and Produce Board saying they are unfit for human consumption.
Cereal Millers Association chairman Nick Hutchinson said there were adequate stocks that were being replenished daily but added supplies remain limited and we continue to reject maize based on high moisture, infestation and aflatoxin levels which fall outside our specifications.
“We are not boycotting NCPB maize and it is important to note that we only mill 35 per cent of maize for consumption while the rest is milled by small scale county based millers. Therefore we cannot speak on behalf of millers on the state of maize availability.”
CMA also rejected claims that NCPB was selling contaminated maize saying they had not found evidence of any maize consignment that contained aflatoxin. READ: NCPB holds Sh1bn maize unfit for human use
Animal feeds
“NCPB has different grades of maize, some suitable for human consumption and others for animal feeds. NCPB maize is sometimes discoloured as is the nature of maize grain but it does not contain aflatoxin,” he said.
The CMA’s statement followed claims by some dealers that Kenyans risk being exposed to packaged toxic-laden maize meal by unscrupulous millers keen on cashing in on the shortage.
NCPB released 600,000 bags of maize on June 15, 2016 which is about a 12 days supply for the members of the CMA. Some upcountry depots were found to have limited stocks suitable for maize meal at Sh2,300, however the landed price in Nairobi ranges between Sh2,600 and 2650 a bag.
The mounting claims of maize contamination come despite Agriculture Principal Secretary, Dr Richard Lesiyampe's efforts to dispel them yesterday saying Kenya had adequate stocks for both human and animal feeds use.
CMA added that they had stocks to last them for 10 days and that they received fresh supplies from NCPB when their stocks reduced citing the June 15 supply of 600,000 bags received by its members.
Aflatoxin is a fungal toxin that commonly contaminates maize and other types of crops during production, harvest, storage or processing.When ingested by human beings, it is known to cause cancer of the liver
