Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has suspended the sale of 10 cooking oils due to quality and health concerns.

The cooking oil products that have been suspended by KEBS are:

1. Fresh Fri with Garlic Oil – Pwani Oil
2. Fresh Fri – Pwani Oil
3. Fry Mate – Pwani Oil
4. Gold and Pure Olive Gold – Bidco Africa
5. Postman – Kapa Oil
6. Rina – Kapa Oil
7. Salit – Pwani Oil
8. Tilly – Kapa Oil
9. Top Fry – Menengai Oil
10. Bahari Fri – Bidco Africa Ltd

In a statement issued by KEBS Director for Market Surveillance Peter Kaigwara, the oils should first be tested and approved before being allowed back into the market for sale. The purpose of the statement is to also caution the public against the purchase of these products which are not fit for human consumption.

The statement further reads:

“Kindly note that this is not a ban on the brands but a temporary suspension to facilitate protection of consumers from potentially unsafe products, safeguard economic interest of manufacturers of compliant brands and to allow the manufacturers of non-compliant brands to initiate and put in place effective corrective action under KEBS supervision.”

The statement further indicated that it was in the interest of and to fulfil KEBS mandate of protecting the health and economic welfare  of consumers and ensure a level play ground field.

“The samples were drawn from the retail outlets and were assessed against the requirements of the standard acts and the respective product standard KS EAS 769:KS 2019 fortified edible and fats- specification.”