The Ministry of Health on Thursday directed all County Public Health Officials to undertake surveillance in all supermarkets, butcheries, meat processors and other food business operators to ascertain any presence additives not permitted use in meat and meat products.
”All offenders will face closure of facilities and prosecution,” Health CS Sicily Kariuki said.
CS Kariuki says the ministry officials will next week meet with county health authorities to evaluate the results of the surveillance and generate a credible action plan to prevent future contravention.
The directive from the ministry came following an expose done by NTV on Sunday July 14 that showed how supermarkets use chemicals to preserve food.
At the same time, Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua has ordered the closure of meat sections in all Naivas Supermarkets within the county after receiving a laboratory report that showed an “additive that should not be used in meat”.
“I direct my officers in collaboration with national government officers to move with speed to all supermarkets in Machakos County for investigations and advisory to the public,” Mutua said in a statement to newsrooms.
The governor reiterated that meat sections in the Naivas Supermarkets will remain closed until they are cleared to operate by the county public health department.