The law Society of Kenya has called for a  probe on supermarkets and butcheries selling meat laced with chemicals and demanded for the prosecution of those found culpable.

“Prosecute and publish the names of any persons engaged in the sale of unwholesome, poisonous, adulterated foods and ensure their licenses are cancelled upon conviction,” LSK  CEO Mercy Wambua said in a statement.

“The sale of meat laced with preservatives by supermarkets and any other outlets is illegal, unconstitutional and gravely endangers lives of the members of the public,” she added.

The statement by LSK follows the NTV expose titled Red Alert, which revealed how some supermarkets were lacing meat with sodium metabisulphite to extend it’s shelf life.

Ms Wambua also faulted the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for failure to undertake it’s statutory obligation saying the agency needs to continuously monitor products and services produced or offered in the country to ensure they conform to the set standards.

“Section 10 of the Standards Act, provides for standardization marks for locally produced and imported goods being consumed in the Country. To acquire the mark, manufactured goods are expected to meet quality requirements as specified in the various Kenya/Approved Standards. A permit to use standardization mark is issued to certify that a particular product conforms to requirements in a Standard.”

“Failure by designated public officials to undertake their statutory duty is a criminal offence and therefore, the Director of Criminal Investigations should take great interest in it,” she said.