Kenyan cereals maker recalls relief donation
A woman carrying water containers heads to Chemoril Primary School in Baringo East District during a distribution of water and Unimix for children by the Kenya Red Cross Society led by the society's Governor, Paul Birech on February 14, 2011.
A major cereals manufacturer is recalling 25 tonnes of relief food after the discovery of aflatoxins in some of its batches sent to drought-hit areas in the country.
Proctor and Allan East Africa said in a paid up advert on Sunday that it would recall three batches of Unimix, a high protein food that is distributed for consumption in the drought-hit areas.
The recalled batches (numbers 236.011.1, 236.011.2 and 237.011.1) account for 25 tonnes, company managing director, Judy Macharia told the Nation on Sunday.
“The three batches contained elements of aflatoxins,” Ms Macharia said.
The discovery was made after the products had left the Proctor and Allan warehouses.
The recalled products are not to be found in supermarket shelves since they are manufactured for relief assistance only, Ms Macharia explained.
“The safety and quality of Proctor and Allan Products is part of our heritage pillars, and remains a non-negotiable priority for the company.”
The company supplies institutions and NGOs with relief foods including Corn Soya Blend and Unimix which are fortified with vitamins and minerals which are easily digested and nutritionally balanced.
As relief products, the company website says that they are delivered at subsidized costs.
All the distributors where deliveries of the three affected batches were made have been informed and advised to isolate them for return, Ms Macharia added.
Their distribution has also been stopped.
Ms Macharia however moved to reassure the people who may have consumed the food that the levels of aflatoxin are very minimal.
There are fears that part of the consignment had been distributed as relief food in the drought-hit parts of the country.
“They may have reached the final consumer but the levels are not alarming.”
“Whilst the affected batches are nowhere near dangerous levels, we have decided to recall the batches as a precautionary measure. The company is currently investigating the cause of this incidence in close collaboration with the authorities,” said Ms Macharia.
Preliminary investigations, she told the Nation, have revealed that the presence of the fungus mainly found in maize was an isolated case.
“The main thing is that we do not wish to cause any panic among the consumers. We are in contact with the distributors and the affected batches will be destroyed once they are returned to us,” she said.
Proctor & Allan East Africa Ltd was incorporated in April 1999 after Proctor & Allan Ltd was acquired by a group of investors and the Acacia Fund Ltd.
