THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH-KENYA
Brendah Obura
Senior Public Health Officer
Division of Food Safety and
Quality Control,
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Contents
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Ministry of Health
–
Role of the Division of Food Safety and
Quality Control.
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Microbiological Hazards Surveillance
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Aflatoxin Monitoring Programme
Why food safety?
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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The laboratories below support monitoring
and surveillance services:
KEMRI
KEBS
Institutions (UON)
National Public Health Laboratory Services
Government Chemist
MONITORING AND SURVELLANCE
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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
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2.
3.
4.
Surveillance has assisted:
To prevent households with contaminated maize
from eating Maize
To facilitate mop up of contaminated Maize
To assist DFSQC in determining appropriate
interventions
For DFSQC to compile Weekly National Report
GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED
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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