The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has raised alarm over heavy
presence of drug remains in Milk Packets.
The KDB board has found the presence of antibiotics,
Pesticides and preservatives in milk after samples of milk tested over the
years showed much of the milk was unfit for human consumption.
According to the KDB Voi Branch manager and senior Dairy
Development officer Kaberia Muirugi, the presence of aflatoxins and
preservatives are a health hazards to consumers.
“Most samples we have tested have shown a presence of
aflatoxins and preservatives which are health hazards” said Kaberia
Muirugi.
He added that the problem can be attributed to the failure
by farmers to observe withdrawal periods after their dairy cattle have been
treated.
“Most farmers do not comply with the treatment advice by
veterinary officers hence the heavy presence of drug remains in milk. We have
also noticed presence of stress hormones in milk because animals are not being
taken care of properly,” said Mr Muirugi during a regional workshop on
milk quality standards
He also said that the board cannot rule out the possibility
that Kenyans are consuming milk with poison.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that we are consuming
milk with high contents of these hormones. Drug residues that the official said
were discovered in raw milk are detergents, disinfectants, pesticides and
mycotoxins."
Mr Muriungi also cited cases where traces of preservatives
such as formalin and hydrogen peroxide were discovered in milk.
“Farmers are not observing withdrawal periods; some of
them are just after making money,” said Mr Muriungi.
“It is a thing we are looking into to make sure there is proper sensitization.” Other factors the official said affected the quality of milk are addition of wheat flour and water
