[kictanet] COFEK: Formalin in Milk

Tue Feb 5 17:56:42 EAT 2013

I do agree that COFEK should have interest in this, but they should by no
means the first point of contact to deal with a public health issue.

Should we pin down COFEK to everything and ignore those charged with the
responsibilities??

Well, COFEK should go after KPLC for not delivering on their mandate - too
much blackouts!

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 5:50 PM, George Nyabuga <george at afrinic.net> wrote:

> Washington, I think you missed the point here. Such issues should not only
> interest the state (and its various agencies, e.g. Ministries of Health,
> public health agencies, KEBS etc.) but also Cofek as a consumer group. Such
> issues may seem mundane but they can have a great impact on people's
> health. We remember not long ago that contaminated milk caused the death of
> a number of children in China.
>
> Cofek should definitely be interested in this issue.
>
> George
>
>
>  Dr George Nyabuga                                                 Tel:
> +230 403 51 00
> Head, Communications and PR, AFRINIC           Fax:  +230 466 67 58
> george at afrinic.net - www.afrinic.net
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please join us at the Africa Internet Summit, Lusaka, Zambia, 9 – 21 June
> 2013
>
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>
> On Feb 5, 2013, at 6:38 PM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Personally, I think COFEK is not the right organization to deal with
> issues like this. We are not going to send COFEK after every food
> manufacturer or any other manufacturers when the issues at hand *are not*those that are perceived to exploit (for lack of a better word) the
> consumer's rights.
> I also don't think we should be referring all red herrings to COFEK
> because if we do, it will lose it's main focus which is consumer
> protection. I am not an advocate for COFEK, but by bringing up this issue
> here, I can sense some witch-hunt against COFEK.
> Let's start by appraising ourselves with what COFEK defines as its
> mandate. Only then can we know what exactly needs to be referred to them.
>
> This Milk issue is a matter of public health and we have a whole ministry
> handling that.
>
> Just my though.
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 3:42 PM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I know milk has nothing to do with ICT but i shared this concern with
>> COFEK and they ignored it. Which consumers or issues do COFEK prefer to
>> deal with? Just asking for those saying they act for the public......
>>
>>  *See more below..
>> *
>>
>> *Summary*:
>>
>> =======================================================================================================
>> Dear Stephen,
>>
>>  I have attended several presentations that have indicated that many milk
>> processing companies in Kenya are using formalin to preserve milk sold to
>> consumers.
>>
>> Formalin is a chemical normally used to preserve dead bodies. Formalin
>> has many negative impacts on human health. If it becomes part of food, it
>> turns into formic acid in human body and increases acidity level. More
>> intake of formalin can cause breathing problems, coma and even death.
>>
>> US Environment Protection Agency and International Agency for Research on
>> Cancer count formalin as one of the cancer-causing agents.
>>
>> Can COFEK try and investigate this.
>>
>> With so many deaths being reported from cancer and every urban dweller
>> entirely dependent on milk from the shops right from early childhood, we
>> are very exposed if this is actually true.
>>
>> Stephen, please advice if you shall investigate this further and protect
>> the consumer.
>>
>> I am sure you are also consuming these products every day.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Muthoni
>>
>>
>> =======================================================================================================
>>
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com>
>> Date: Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 3:24 PM
>> Subject: Re: Formalin in Milk
>> To: hotline at cofek.co.ke
>> Cc: jack juma <jack at cofek.co.ke>, Theresia Watowa <theresia at cofek.co.ke>
>>
>>
>> Sorry, what else do you want to know? This last line is not clear.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 9:50 AM, Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) <
>> hotline at cofek.co.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> **
>>> Ok but can we know who you please
>>> Sent from my BlackBerry®
>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From: * Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com>
>>> *Date: *Fri, 7 Sep 2012 09:39:53 +0300
>>> *To: *<hotline at cofek.co.ke>
>>> *Cc: *jack juma<jack at cofek.co.ke>; Theresia Watowa<theresia at cofek.co.ke>
>>> *Subject: *Re: Formalin in Milk
>>>
>>> Stephen,
>>>
>>> I don't have evidence but Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) and KEBS
>>> should be able to provide accountability because the milk producers are all
>>> showing the KEBS logo for quality.
>>>
>>> I am a layman in this, just very concerned about because presentations
>>> are coming from health and nutrition experts talking about this.
>>>
>>> Please try and see what you can do for the consumer.
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>> Muthoni
>>>
>>> On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 9:30 AM, Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) <
>>> hotline at cofek.co.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> **
>>>> It is being acted upon although you never provided any facts and
>>>> supporting evidence
>>>> Sent from my BlackBerry®
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> *From: * Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com>
>>>> *Date: *Fri, 7 Sep 2012 09:27:10 +0300
>>>> *To: *<hotline at cofek.co.ke>
>>>> *Cc: *<stephen at cofek.co.ke>
>>>> *Subject: *Re: Formalin in Milk
>>>>
>>>> Dear Stephen,
>>>>
>>>> I thought COFEK would acknowledge receipt if this email and say whether
>>>> is an area you will look into or not.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Muthoni
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Aug 31, 2012 at 12:33 PM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Dear Stephen,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have attended several presentations that have indicated that many
>>>>> milk processing companies in Kenya are using formalin to preserve milk sold
>>>>> to consumers.
>>>>>
>>>>> Formalin is a chemical normally used to preserve dead bodies. Formalin
>>>>> has many negative impacts on human health. If it becomes part of food, it
>>>>> turns into formic acid in human body and increases acidity level. More
>>>>> intake of formalin can cause breathing problems, coma and even death.
>>>>>
>>>>>  US Environment Protection Agency and International Agency for
>>>>> Research on Cancer count formalin as one of the cancer-causing agents.
>>>>>
>>>>> Can COFEK try and investigate this.
>>>>>
>>>>> With so many deaths being reported from cancer and every urban dweller
>>>>> entirely dependent on milk from the shops right from early childhood, we
>>>>> are very exposed if this is actually true.
>>>>>
>>>>> Stephen, please advice if you shall investigate this further and
>>>>> protect the consumer.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am sure you are also consuming these products every day.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>> Muthoni
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Muthoni
>>>>
>>>> My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/
>>>> --------------------------------------------
>>>> Mahatma Gandhi once said:-
>>>>
>>>> First they ignore you,
>>>> Then they laugh at you,
>>>> Then they fight you,
>>>> AND THEN YOU WIN!!!
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
> Nairobi,KE
> +254733744121/+254722743223
> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
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>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>

-- 
Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254733744121/+254722743223
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
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