Vital Camel Milk CEO Holger Malbarch at his factory. He says the US food watchdog is blocking products from Africa. Photo/JOSEPH KANYI
The US has banned Kenya’s processed camel milk from its market, denying the country’s young industry an avenue for growth.
Kenya’s only camel milk processor Vital Camel Milk has, for more than three years, been seeking approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to export its products.
However, the proprietor is now reporting frustration by the watchdog.
“The US is intentionally avoiding food products from Africa,” said Mr Holger Malbarch, the CEO. “We would need millions of dollars to improve processing and intake for us to meet the regulations.”
The FDA has put stringent quality requirements on processing and sourcing and Vital says it would be expensive to police hundreds of farmers in northern Kenya where the bulk of the commodity comes from.
The quality guidelines are anchored on hygiene at the source, including what the animals eat, and cleanliness at the factory.
The US is one of the largest consumers of camel milk after the Middle East and Europe in the global market estimated at $10 billion.
Entering the US would give Kenyan firms access to a large market that would greatly boost growth and offer room to the milk worth Sh4 billion going to waste yearly.
The Kenya Dairy Board data shows Kenya produces about 340 million litres of camel milk annually worth about Sh8 billion based on the farm-gate price of Sh20 a litre.
Only 12 per cent of the produce finds way to urban centres where the price is Sh80 a litre.
The move by the FDA is set to make it difficult to access the European market as the EU tends to work closely with the US food watchdog.
Kenya is still waiting for a feedback from the European Union on whether they can export camel milk.
Demand for the commodity has been rising due to health benefits as it has lower fat and cholesterol compared to cow milk.
Vital planned to access the US market through Los Angeles in California. Other export markets for the company are South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Chile.
Despite failure to access the US market, the company’s executive is upbeat about the domestic market which he notes has had significant improvements.
Through a media campaign, Vital Camel Milk has been sensitising local consumers on the medicinal advantages of the product.
Camel milk is known to have anti-bacterial components and believed to prevent peptic ulcers.
Shelf life
Research also shows that it is three times richer than cow’s milk in Vitamin C, it is rich in iron, non-saturated fatty acids and Vitamin B.
The company sells fresh camel milk, yoghurt, susa (fermented sour milk) and organic low fat ice cream through supermarkets like Nakumatt, Uchumi, Tuskys and other retailers.
Having developed and patented new preservative technology, the company is now selling packaged milk with a 30-day shelf life up from 10 days.
Vital that is the only camel milk processor in sub Saharan Africa has been expanding its supply network by organising camel farmers in Northern Kenya.
The Nanyuki-based company collects milk from Laisamis, Isiolo, Laikipia, Rumuruti and Kulamawe.
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