The Ministry of Health has ordered the immediate withdrawal of several peanut butter brands from retail shelves after laboratory tests detected dangerously high levels of aflatoxin. This toxic substance poses severe health risks to consumers when ingested. The crackdown targets popular brands including Nutie, Kismat, Pannaj, and Muleka after investigations revealed contamination levels that far exceed the national safety limit of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
In a circular issued on March 25, 2026, Health Director General Patrick Amoth informed County Public Health Officers that laboratory results confirmed a significant breach of safety thresholds. The data paints a worrying picture of the extent of the contamination.
For instance, a 250g jar of Nutie Peanut Butter (batch 230925) recorded a staggering 934ppb – over 60 times the legal limit. Other Nutie batches and various sizes of Kismat Peanut Butter also showed elevated levels, ranging from 29.78 ppb to 207.44 ppb. Similarly, tests on Pannaj and Muleka brands returned results of 47.7ppb and 134.4ppb, respectively.
Due to the immediate threat these products pose to public health, the Ministry has directed authorities to seize and destroy all existing stock of the affected batches. Officials continue to monitor the market to ensure these hazardous items do not reach unsuspecting households.
Health Director General Patrick Amoth has instructed county public health officers to intensify market surveillance and inspect the factories responsible for the contaminated peanut butter. He ordered an immediate halt to all processing and distribution until the manufacturers implement effective corrective measures.
To protect the public, Amoth mandated the seizure and disposal of all existing stock currently on the market. He also advised officials to broaden their surveillance to include all food products to prevent further safety breaches.
The Director General noted that all enforcement actions must strictly follow the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act (Cap 254) and the Public Health Act (Cap 242). To ensure a coordinated response, he directed that all updates on these measures be sent to his office and copied to the Division of Food Safety. Amoth described these steps as a necessary shield for consumer health, urging a high level of vigilance across all counties to eliminate the risk of further toxin exposure.
This order comes at a critical time as the Ministry of Health tightens its grip on food safety standards in 2026. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics suggests that the food processing sector is under increased scrutiny following recent regional alerts about aflatoxin in grain and nut products. For consumers, the immediate removal of these specific batches is intended to prevent “aflatoxicosis” – a serious condition caused by high-level toxin intake that can lead to acute liver failure.
The post Health Ministry Orders Immediate Recall of Popular Peanut Butter Brands Over Toxin Levels appeared first on Bossnana.
