NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 11 – The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has declared 2 million kilograms of imported rice unfit for human consumption due to excessive aflatoxin levels.
A recent KEBS report revealed that the flagged consignment, shipped from Pakistan in September and October, contained 11.54 parts per billion (ppb) of aflatoxin per kilogram—more than double the allowable limit of 5.0 ppb per kilogram.
The contaminated rice, packed in 83,000 bags weighing 25 kg each, was transported from the Kilindini Port in Mombasa to Nairobi, where it was repackaged and distributed to various wholesale and retail outlets. So far, KEBS has confiscated only 23,000 kilograms of the tainted product, leaving over 50,000 kilograms circulating in the market and posing significant health risks to consumers.
Market surveillance officers seized a portion of the contaminated rice at the Central Business Park in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. Efforts to locate and remove the remaining rice are ongoing.
Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which thrive in warm and humid conditions. Consumption of high aflatoxin levels can cause acute poisoning, severe liver damage, and even death. Prolonged exposure is linked to genotoxic effects, including DNA damage and liver cancer in humans.
KEBS has urged consumers to remain vigilant and report suspicious rice products while continuing its investigations to protect public health.