The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has warned consumers about misleading certification claims on khat-infused beverages, commonly known as miraa or muguka, and marketed as jaba juice.
In a notice on October 16, the standards agency said it had identified cases where manufacturers used certification permits issued for fruit juices and fruit drinks to market khat-infused beverages.
KEBS clarified that its Standardization Mark (S-Mark) permits apply only to products covered by the approved certification scope and cannot be used to certify other products.
“Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) wishes to notify the public, manufacturers, traders of the misuse of the KEBS Standardization Mark (S-Mark) on beverages containing khat (miraa/muguka), commonly marketed as jaba juice,” read part of the statement.
KEBS Alerts Consumers to Jaba-Infused Beverages in Kenya
KEBS said it currently excludes khat and khat-derived products from its product certification scheme because of regulatory considerations related to the plant’s psychoactive constituents, including cathinone and cathine.
Consequently, the agency said it had not issued Standardization Mark permits for any khat-infused beverages.
It added that displaying the mark or the certification for such products amounts to misrepresentation and may attract enforcement action under the Standards Act.
The agency said it had revoked certification permits in identified cases of non-compliance and would continue market surveillance to identify manufacturers and traders misusing the quality mark.
Further, manufacturers and traders have been cautioned against displaying the S-Mark or claiming certification for jaba-infused beverages.
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Consumers have also been advised that any representation suggesting KEBS currently certifies such drinks is misleading.
The agency urged the public to verify product certification through its official channels, including SMS 20023, and report suspected misuse of the Standardization Mark through the toll-free number 1545.
KEBS said the measures are intended to protect consumers, safeguard the integrity of its certification system and ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
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How Miraa-Infused Drinks Entered Kenyan Market
The push to commercialise miraa-infused beverages gained momentum in October 2021 during the First National Miraa Scientific Conference in Nairobi, where the government unveiled products including miraa whisky, wine, guarana blends and energy drinks.
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Ministry of Agriculture jointly organised the conference as part of efforts to explore value addition and commercial opportunities for the crop.
In 2023, the government gazetted the Crops (Miraa) Regulations, establishing a regulatory framework for miraa products, including processed forms intended for commercial sale and export.
By June 2024, research into commercial miraa products had advanced, with food scientists at Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), led by Professor Joshua Arimi, developing stabilised beverages designed for commercial production.
The products included Miraa Bamboocha, a wine, and a muguka-based energy drink. The research focused on preserving the beverages’ quality and shelf life while retaining compounds such as polyphenols.
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