Bread manufacturers on the spot over consumer abuse by omitting the exact weight of bread they sell.
The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) found bakers to be enticing unsuspecting consumers with false advertising on ingredients in their products, if only to secure a spot in their toasters.
“These actions amount to making false and misleading representations to consumers of goods and services and are in contravention of sections of the Competition Act. Further, the bread manufacturers, were not adhering to product information standards as prescribed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS),” read the statement.
The manufacturers have been found liable for failing to provide manufacturing dates on bread wrappers in the prescribed format with others omitting the applicable month in the expiry dates.
According to CAK the expiry date should “Best Before” as opposed to “Sell Before”.
CAK Director General Wang’ombe Kariuki noted that manufacturers have no latitude to elect which laws to adhere to.
The authority has ordered manufacturers to comply with all requirements with immediate effect such as providing a list of ingredients and the net weight of products in grams.
Further, manufacturers must clearly specify the vitamins and minerals used in the fortification of their bread.
The authority is expected to continuously undertake spot-checks to establish compliance with all the directives.
“Manufacturers found guilty risk imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding Kshs. 10 million or both,” said the authority.
