The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA will heighten testing of cereals in local Posho Mills in enforce food safety regulations.
AFA Director General Kello Harsama says increasing cancer cases in rural areas are attributed to high aflatoxin levels on cereals especially maize and adulterated rice.
According to the Agriculture and Food Authority, most agricultural products in the Kenyan market are not fit for human consumption.
The authority’s Director General Kello Harsama says the agency will start conducting vigorous and continuous tests on maize and other cereals at the local posho mills especially those in rural areas.
The decision is informed by the high level of aflatoxin contamination of the cereals that has seen an increase in cancer cases.
Adulterated rice has also been singled out as the most contaminated food crop in the country’s market.
The regulator says unscrupulous traders have been mixing local produced rice with illegally imported rice further compromising the rice quality and safety standards.
AFA adds that more traders have been licensed to import maize into the country from neighboring countries and currently there has been an influx of the commodity into the country.
As such maize testing efforts at border entry points across the country have been stepped up to ensure only certified maize that conform to the country and the regional safety standards access the Kenyan market.
Farmers have been encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper storage best practices to minimize contamination of their produce and reduce post harvest losses that is has been reducing their earnings.
AFA is currently conducting sensitization meetings on food safety standards across key markets in Nairobi as it marks the World Food Safety Day.
The sensitization exercise will be also carried out in key markets across major towns in the country.
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