Consumer Alert : Quality of Bread in Kenya

Competition Authority of Kenya Puts Bread Producers on the spot

Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has raised a consumer alert on the weight and nutrients of bread, saying some companies have been disregarding manufacturing rules and wrongfully misleading consumers.

Expiry Dates

CAK, in a statement issued on Monday 24^th May, also revealed that some manufacturers were also contravening the manufacturing date/month guidelines.

“In particular, the manufacturers were not giving the manufacturing date/month on their bread coverings in the recommended design while others were printing them obscurely on the seals. In different cases, the producers overlooked the relevant month in the expiry dates,” CAK said.

According to CAK, bread producers are required to print production and supply dates on the packaging in a readable format.

Buyer Beware

The report by Competition Authority further noted that some manufacturers were falsely listing down non-existent ingredients in their breads, in a move aimed at deceiving consumers.

“Moreover, the makers neglected to give the weight of their bread products and ingredients, while others marketed their bread as fortified however didn’t indicate the supposed nutrients or vitamins utilized. A few brands deceived purchasers that their items contained milk or butter while they didn’t“.

The report by the Competition Authority comes in the wake of an increased price of bread by Sh 5, for the standard bread, to the chagrin of consumers.

CAK Director-General Kariuki Wang’ombe urged Consumers to be on the lookout and maintained that it was the right of consumers to get accurate and timely information concerning the products they buy.