1. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH-KENYA
Brendah Obura
Senior Public Health Officer
Division of Food Safety and Quality Control,

2. Contents Ministry of Health
Role of the Division of Food Safety and Quality Control.
Microbiological Hazards Surveillance
Aflatoxin Monitoring Programme

3. Why food safety?
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

4. Food hazards
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

5. Infected maize with Aflatoxin.

6. Aflatoxins outbreaks
people in Eastern province out of the 341 reported cases died of aflatoxin poisoning.
out of 63 the reported cases of aflatoxin poisoning in Eastern province were fatal.
out of 78 reported cases in east province were fatal
out of 84 case in Eastern province were fatal
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.

7. Causes of Aflatoxin outbreaks.
Global weather change (2010). Affected drying.
Harvesting method.
Shelling methods.
Dusting.
Storage structures and materials.

8. MAIZE FIELD

9. PROPER DRYING METHOD

10. PROPER DRYING METHOD…

11. Improper drying methods.

12. GOOD MAIZE STORAGE

13. POOR MAIZE STORAGE

14. LAWS AND REGULATIONS
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

15. LABORATORY SERVICES
The laboratories below support monitoring and surveillance services:
KEMRI
KEBS
Institutions (UON)
National Public Health Laboratory Services
Government Chemist

16. MONITORING AND SURVELLANCE
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

17. MONITORING AND SURVELLANCE
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

18. GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED
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.

19. Thank you