1

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH-KENYA

Brendah Obura

Senior Public Health Officer

Division of Food Safety and Quality Control,

2

Contents

Ministry of Health

– Role of the Division of Food Safety and

Quality Control.

Microbiological Hazards Surveillance

Aflatoxin Monitoring Programme

Why food safety?

Consumers are becoming more conscious of what they consume and how it is produced, processed, packaged, stored distributed and marketed.

Food safety assure food quality for the domestic, regional and international mkts cannot overemphasized

Food hazards

Biological –agents microorganisms eg bacteria(salmonella. E. coli), viruses(Hepatitis A., Rotavirus),Fungus( Aspergillus flavus

Chemical- Natural chemicals such as Mycotoxins eg aflatoxins, mushroom toxins

Artificial-Agric. Chemicals( pesticides, fertilizers) which have toxic elements

Infected maize with Aflatoxin.

Aflatoxins outbreaks

2004- 123 people in Eastern province out of the 341 reported cases died of aflatoxin poisoning.

2005- 23 out of 63 the reported cases of aflatoxin poisoning in Eastern province were fatal.

2006-28 out of 78 reported cases in east province were fatal 2007- 21 out of 84 case in Eastern province were fatal 2008- 2 cases out of 6 reported cases this year were fatal 2009- to date :no fatal case reported so far -31,000 bags of maize condemned in Mbeere -1,213 bags of maize condemned in Bura irr. Scheme Widespread outbreak in Eastern, Central and coast provinces.

Causes of Aflatoxin outbreaks.

Global weather change (2010). Affected drying.

Harvesting method. Shelling methods. Dusting. Storage structures and materials.

MAIZE FIELD

PROPER DRYING METHOD

PROPER DRYING METHOD…

Improper drying methods.

GOOD MAIZE STORAGE

POOR MAIZE STORAGE

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Food Drugs and Chemical Substances Act Cap 254 LOK

Public Health Act Cap 242 LOK The Crops Act 2013 National Horticulture policy 2012 Food and Nutrition Policy

LABORATORY SERVICES

The laboratories below support monitoring and surveillance services:

KEMRI KEBS Institutions (UON) National Public Health Laboratory Services Government Chemist

MONITORING AND SURVELLANCE

Currently done by the District Disease Surveillance Officers from the MOH

Govt institutions e.g Universities and KEMRI to generate scientific data

MoA thru’ Agriculture Extension Officers

MONITORING AND SURVELLANCE

Surveillance has assisted:

1. To prevent households with contaminated maize from eating Maize

2. To facilitate mop up of contaminated Maize

3. To assist DFSQC in determining appropriate interventions

4. For DFSQC to compile Weekly National Report

GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED

National Food Safety Policy (draft) to be adopted into law.

Strengthen Food Safety Surveillance Laboratories to generate scientific data.

Policies, Legislation and Standards for management of aflatoxin in the country need to be reviewed.

Disposal of contaminated maize.

Thank you