By KAMAU MAICHUHIE
Kenya: The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has defended the ongoing crackdown on illegal milk vendors saying it is aimed at cushioning the public against consumption of adulterated milk.
Dairy Development Officer Mildred Kosgey said the countrywide swoop was in response to rampant hawking of adulterated milk, which she said posed great danger to the public.
Ms Kosgey spoke in Thika during a stakeholders’ forum involving the board’s officials, dairy farmers and milk vendors. She said all vendors will be required to have licences to conduct the business and transport their milk in aluminum containers to ensure hygiene.
“Milk is only fresh for two hours after milking if not processed or boiled. We have substantial evidence that some unscrupulous traders add dangerous preservatives to ensure a longer lifespan,” noted Ms Kosgey.
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She said the chemicals used are very harmful yet colourless and odourless, and therefore not easily detected by buyers and consumers.
She said milk is diluted with water in order to increase its quantity and that KDB’s role is to protect the public by licensing legitimate traders only.
