Nairobi health officials close meat departments in six supermarkets
CGTN
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Nairobi County authorities have shut down meat departments in six major supermarkets in after samples revealed excess quantities of sodium metabisulphite preservative in the meat.

Samples indicated the meat had 63,000 milligrams per kilogram of sodium metabisulphite preservative.

The maximum required limit is 500 milligrams per kilogram.

Nairobi County Health Executive Mohamed Dagane said that the county has constituted a task force to sample meat sections of 40 supermarkets.

Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko has now directed county health officers to intensify the crackdown and ensure consumers are protected from unscrupulous traders.

“I have directed the county health officers to conduct daily inspections in all meat eateries so that we protect Nairobi residents from consuming poisonous food,” He stated.

The supermarkets were discovered to have excessive amounts of preservatives after laboratory tests done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

The use of sodium metabisulphite allows stores to keep meat on display without being refrigerated for longer periods of time. The chemical helps preserves the red color, reduces microbial activity and the smell that often arises if the meat is kept out of refrigeration for long periods.

Dagane said key officials from the six supermarkets will be arraigned in court to face charges of endangering human life.

“We exist to protect human lives,” said Dagane.

Deputy Director of Public Health Wilson Lang’at said that the county will expand the crackdown to butcheries and all eateries in Nairobi.

“We will continue with the tastes in all the major supermarkets as well as eateries in town,” Langat said.

The Nairobi Central Business District has witnessed mushrooming of eateries that are also suspected to be using food preservatives illegally.