Naivas Supermarket suspends sale of red meat in stores countywide

Naivas Supermarket has now suspended the sale of red meat across all its stores countrywide pending the results of an independent testing.

The supermarket, in a statement to newsrooms on Thursday, stated that the whole stock of red meat will be subjected to a thorough independent lab test and a step-by-step verification of each participant along the whole meat value chain.

Willy Kimani, the Naivas Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We will only be selling white meat for now in all our butcheries.”

He further added that the outlet is presently cooperating with national and county government agencies to address the issue.

“Kimani restated that customer welfare remains paramount for the firm and that Naivas does not use or condone the use of any chemical preservatives for meat products,” read the statement.

“He reiterated that the company will take strong legal action against anybody found to have supplied contaminated meat to Naivas.”

The decision comes after Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua on Thursday shut down meat sections of all Naivas Supermarket outlets in Machakos County.

This is after a laboratory test on a sample of meat sold at Naivas Supermarket at Gateway Mall in Mavoko was allegedly found to contain a harmful additive.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko also closed down meat outlets in six major supermarkets in Nairobi after samples revealed excess preservatives in the meat.

Among the supermarkets included Naivas limited Buruburu, Muthaiga fine Meat Limited, and Tuskys Kenyatta Avenue.