Rwanda has moved to ban imports of Kenyan-made noodles, Indomie in the wake of health concerns over its safety.
The East African country imposed the ban after the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority raised concerns over the brand’s chicken flavored noodles.
The regulator has started inspecting the food brand even as it directs importers of the product to stop distributing it.
As earlier reported, the Comesa Competition Commission (CCC) warned consumers against eating Indomie’s chilli, chicken and vegetable flavours that were recalled from the Egyptian market.
Tests conducted by the Food and Safety Authority (FSA) of Egypt indicated that the packets contained aflatoxins and pesticide residues which exceeded the safe limits.
As a result, the Consumers Federation of Kenya asked consumers to stay away from the products and urged supermarkets to recall the products until proper tests are done by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Kebs managing director Bernard Njiraini said samples of the noodle products by Indomie sold in the Kenyan market would be tested for safety before action is taken.
“Kebs is committed to protecting consumers and will engage the relevant bodies including Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa) and Egypt to establish the batches and ascertain if these batches were imported into the country
“Meanwhile, we shall draw samples for testing and if the contaminants are present we shall withdraw the products from the market,” said Njiraini.
KEBS is yet to issue a statement.
