[kictanet] COFEK: Formalin in Milk

Tue Feb 5 18:41:43 EAT 2013

Thanks and Hi Mark, George, Washington and Muthoni:

I replied to Muthoni separately and offlist. That we are discussing "formalin in milk" on a respected ICT mailing list confirms some of our inherent fears but we will not get there. Yes, it is within our broad (policy) mandate. But as I am sure most listers refer ICT issues to the regulator (CCK) first and/or seek his opinion, and considering our capacity challenge (not funded by taxpayer), it will also be only fair that people who complain about our services first check with regulators (Kenya Dairy Board in this case) before they refer matters to us. 

Again, reporting an alarmist issue with no iota of evidence - and asking us to "investigate" - from the unknown to the known - can only go as far as referring to the competent bodies. Why? We have no laboratory of our own and no surplus funds to start sampling all milk for formalin - as the complainant in this case never even pointed us to the geographical area or company that could have been importing contaminated milk. Nonetheless our Consumer Dialogue Forum 4 on September 12 at Intercontinental on food additives raised this issue. The Chief Public Health Officer Dr Ombacho who was present discounted the fears. If you were in our shoes, just how far could you go?

At Cofek, we receive all manners of complaints as complex as the National Surveillance Communication Command and Control Sytems tender http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1344%3Afears-on-national-surveillance-communication-command-and-control-systems-tender&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=60 )  or the African Gas & Oil Ltd LPG facility plant (http://www.cofek.co.ke/Agol%20Liquefied%20Petroleum%20Gas%20Project.pdf ) or aspartame (sweetener in sugar-free drinks)  to easier ones such as visible impurities in drinks and food. 

We will continue appreciating the genuine bashing but we request listers to be fair to our cause. Perhaps, it might help if listers appreciated that some of the comments they make here are not immune to legal action against them as individuals. And perhaps, the listing may need to consider some form of moderation of some of the messages which the PS for Information and Communications would be tempted to classify as "hate speech" 

Good evening ...

Stephen Mutoro
www.cofek.co.ke 

________________________________
 From: Mark Mwangi <mwangy at gmail.com>
To: smutoro at yahoo.com 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 5:50 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] COFEK: Formalin in Milk

"As such, our work emphasizes the need for a conducive environment to allow for competitive trade and business. We strongly believe that what is good for the consumer is good for business. We fight monopolies and price control tendencies. We fight counterfeits and unfair business practices. We sound alerts on market recalls. All in all, we yearn to see the 100% restoration of consumer pride and confidence in Kenya!"

I got the above from the COFEK website under the who we are page. The issue raised here is well within the mandate of the privately run organization as the self appointed guardian of the consumer. 

That there was no reply to Dorcas on whether the issue concerning the formalin is something they can deal with points to a preferential treatment of affairs that should be worrying. 
Is COFEK only after big fish/big money operations? Or is it maximum exposure scenarios? 

Claiming to be a consumer oriented organization should mean you are accountable to them no?

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 5:38 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
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>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.
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-- 
Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke

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