Homa Bay County bans use of newspapers to wrap meat

Homa Bay County has banned use of newspapers for wrapping meat and other food items in the region citing health concerns.

Health County Executive Committee (CEC) Prof. Richard Muga said newspaper ink contains harmful chemicals that are dangerous to human health when consumed urging the public to use alternative ways of packaging foods.

Prof. Muga said some butchers had already been arrested for using newspapers to wrap meat for their customers, adding that public health officers will continue with the crackdown.

The CEC stated that the department of public health has met all butchery operators in Homa Bay County where they were served with notice restricting them from using newspapers to wrap raw meat.

He warned that anybody found using newspapers to wrap foods such as meat, fish, mandazi and chapatis will be arrested and charged in a court of law.

Prof. Muga called on members of the public to follow the Public Health Act to avoid conflicts with the authority.

Butchery operators, led by their Vice-Chairperson Geoffrey Onduso are opposed to the ban, saying they were not consulted nor served with notices as claimed by the county government.

Mr. Onduso has threatened to stage a demonstration to protest against the ban should the county government fail to meet the business community as soon as possible.