The Norwegian authorities have raised an alarm over Kenyan avocados after two packages of the product were claimed to contain high doses of pesticide chlorpyrifos that exceed the permitted limit value.
Pia Gulbrandsen, Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Relations at Bama, said that all customer groups have been notified and are already taking action to remove the products from the sales shelves.
“The recall only applies to the specified package dates. It does not apply to avocados with other packing dates from Kenya or other origins,” Pia Gulbrandsen.
The specific products that have been recalled are Rema 1,000 Ripe avocado 2pk, 320 g that were Packaged on September 7 and 9, 2022. The lot has been sold in Rema 1,000 stores across the country.
The other one that has been recalled is Season avocado ripened 2pk, 320g that was packaged on September 6,7, 9 and 10 of this year, with the lot having been sold in Meny, Kiwi, Spar, Joker and some convenience stores across the country.
However, Hosea Machuki, Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) chief executive, said this is normal in international business and there is nothing out of the ordinary. He observed that maintaining the required internationally accepted standards will keep Kenya ahead of its competitors.
Increased Global Demand for Kenyan Avocados
This comes at a time when Kenya has penetrated the vast Chinese market, being the only approved African source market for fresh Avocado fruits in the Asian country.
The increased demand generated in the global sphere has seen the country take the lead as Africa’s top exporter of the commodity, surpassing South Africa.
In the global markets, Kenya is the sixth largest exporter of commodities. The country accounts for 81.6 per cent of EAC avocado fruit produce. The Hass variety, which is the most grown variety in Kenya, has generated a lot of interest in the export markets owing to its long shelf life and taste.
