MPs ‘prove’ banned food in local shops
What you need to know:
- The MPs produced Aromat, a flavour enhancer from Unilever
- Agriculture Committee chairman Adan Mohamed (Mandera North, URP) said the public could feel cheated
Two MPs on Wednesday brought to the House a food flavour sold locally that they said was from genetically modified products despite the government ban on GMOs.
Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and the chairman of the taskforce established to investigate the safety of GMOs, Prof Kihumbu Thairu, were briefing the Agriculture Committee on their progress when the MPs produced Aromat, a flavour enhancer from Unilever.
RATIONALE OF THE BAN
MPs Dan Maanzo (Makueni, Wiper) and Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu, TNA) questioned the rationale of the ban in November 2012.
“This is one of the most used products in households yet its advertisements do not indicate it is genetically modified,” said Mr Maanzo.
Committee chairman Adan Mohamed (Mandera North, URP) said the public could feel cheated.
The Chief Public Health Officer at the Ministry, Dr Kepha Ombacho, contradicted himself when he said no genetically modified food had been allowed in the country and at the same time asserted that it was not illegal for the such products to be sold as long as they were labelled.
