Tackling unsafe food in Kenya to boost health and exports

Pests and diseases are responsible for losses in agricultural produce estimated at between 30 and 40 percent, highlighting the need for pesticides, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Health and food experts around the world are, however concerned that use of harmful agro-chemicals, as well as their residuals levels in food, and mishandling of food are placing a huge burden on the health of Kenyan consumers. This also hurts the country’s exports. Whereas the Constitution guarantees Kenyans access to quality food, in reality getting safe food is a struggle for most households. But there is hope yet following a fresh push by experts and policymakers to promote food safety. They are calling for a holistic approach to promote safety standards of diet consumed in the country. Prof Erastus Kang’ethe, a public Health and Food Safety specialist at the University of Nairobi, notes that despite the government developing robust regulations, efforts on food safety standards have not ...