The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has reassured the public that methanol used or imported in the country is safe and cannot be mistaken for alcohol.
This comes amid reports linking Kenya to a list of nations at risk of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or tainted alcoholic drinks.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, KEBS clarified that all methanol in Kenya is denatured using denatonium benzoate, the bitterest known chemical compound, which makes it impossible for human consumption due to its extremely unpleasant taste.
“KEBS would like to assure the public that all methanol in the country is denatured by adding denatonium benzoate. This means methanol found in Kenya can never be mistaken for alcohol as this component makes its taste extremely bitter for human ingestion,” the agency said.
The standards body explained that all methanol manufactured locally or imported must comply with specific Kenyan standards.
This includes KS 2471:2013 (Methanol for industrial use – Specifications), KS 2582-1:2014 (Safety of chemical products – Safety of methanol), KS 2583:2014 (Denatonium benzoate in alcohols – Test method), and KS 2584:2018 (Transport of dangerous goods – Operational requirements for road vehicles).
According to KEBS, the regulations are designed to prevent foreseeable misuse of methanol.
The KS 2582-1:2014 standard specifically requires that all grades of methanol, except those intended for laboratory use, be denatured with denatonium benzoate to prevent accidental or intentional oral intake.
Additionally, methanol must contain not less than 8 parts per million (ppm) of the denaturant to meet safety requirements.
“These standards are used in issuing product certification marks of quality and in checking compliance before methanol is approved for intended use,” the statement added.
KEBS further explained that denaturation involves altering the characteristics of methanol by adding another chemical compound—in this case, denatonium benzoate—to make it unsafe for drinking.
The agency also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or substandard products under the “Wajibika Na KEBS” program.
Members of the public can verify the authenticity of products by sending the code under the S-Mark or ISM Mark to 20023 for confirmation, or report any discrepancies via the toll-free line 1545 during working hours.
“KEBS encourages the public to report any suspected substandard products or foul play by manufacturers through our toll-free number 1545,” it said.
