Fresh concerns have emerged over the safety of sugar sold in Kenya after local manufacturers warned Parliament that raw sugar meant for industrial processing is increasingly finding its way into retail outlets.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Appearing before the National Assembly's Trade Committee on Wednesday, August 5, the sugar industry stakeholders urged the government to regulate sugar imports, arguing that rising imports have created loopholes allowing raw sugar to be sold as ordinary table sugar.

The manufacturers told lawmakers that raw sugar should only be imported to bridge supply shortages and to serve industries such as food processing, beverages, pharmaceuticals and distilleries, where it undergoes further refining before use.

"Raw sugar should only be allowed into the country as a short-term measure to address deficits and to cushion food, beverage, pharmaceutical and distillery industries that rely on industrial sugar," said a Busia sugar owner.

📌 What You Need to Know

They further noted that global practice requires imported raw sugar to be refined before reaching consumers because it contains impurities and is not intended for direct human consumption in its imported state.

"Global practice is to import raw sugar for refining before sale. Raw sugar contains impurities and is sometimes transported in open containers because it is not meant for direct human consumption unless refined," another stakeholder told the committee.

To curb the alleged leakage of raw sugar into the market, the manufacturers proposed strict enforcement of the Sugar Act, 2024 and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) import requirements.

The stakeholders also argued that excessive sugar imports are hurting local millers by depressing prices, reducing sales and threatening thousands of jobs, while denying the government revenue through the entry of uncustomed sugar.

During the session, lawmakers sought answers on whether ordinary Kenyans can distinguish between raw industrial sugar and refined table sugar, with stakeholders maintaining that consumers have no practical way of telling the difference once the product reaches retail shelves.

The latest warning comes just three months afte r MPs raised alarm over 27,839 metric tonnes of imported suga r valued at about Ksh1.5 billion that was feared could find its way into the market despite being deemed unsuitable for direct consumption.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke