Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Managing Director Charles Ongwae has refuted claims that seized contraband sugar has mercury traces. Instead, Ongwae said that the infamous sugar has copper and lead metals beyond the recommended levels.
The copper that was detected was above the required levels identified by the KEBS standards making it unfit for consumption,” the agency confirmed.
According to KEBS, normal sugar fit for human consumption contains 2 milligrams of copper per kilogram. Their tests on one of the consignments however found 20.7 milligrams of the metal per kilogram.
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The MD added that the sugar was imported illegally and was not inspected by their officers. He reiterated that they always inspect imported goods twice, in the country of origin and port of entry for verification.
The goods are then given are certificates of conformity before they allowed into trader’s shelves. Ongwae confirmed that more testing was being done in other parts of the country and a report would be issued to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
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