Most Packaged Foods in Kenya to Require Health Warning Labels Under New Regulations
According to an independent report shared with Reuters, nearly all packaged food and beverages sold in Kenya by both local and international companies will need a health warning label under new government regulations.
This month, Kenya introduced its nutrient profile model and pledged to use it for creating front-of-package labels.
The report from the non-profit Access to Nutrition Initiative revealed that, under these new rules, a staggering 90% of products from global brands like Coca-Cola and Nestle, as well as local companies such as Brookside Dairy Ltd and Manji Foods Industries, contain excessive amounts of salt, sugar, or saturated fat.
It turns out that about two-thirds of the products would be classified as “unhealthy” according to internationally recognized models like Nutri-Score, which, unlike the Kenyan model, also considers the positive nutrients in food.
Unfortunately, neither the Kenyan government nor the companies involved have responded to requests for comments.
ATNI has been monitoring products globally, including in countries like the U.S. and India, but this report on Kenya, along with one from Tanzania, marks a significant first for an African nation.
Last year, ATNI discovered that the products offered by the world’s largest food and beverage companies in poorer countries were generally less healthy than those available in wealthier nations.
ATNI emphasized the need to expand its efforts, working alongside governments and businesses, in African countries as eating habits evolve and the rates of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases rise.
In Kenya, the market for processed packaged food has seen a remarkable 16% growth over the past five years, and the report highlights a concerning trend: adult obesity rates have tripled since the year 2000. Now, 45% of women and 19% of men are classified as overweight or obese.
“Kenya is at this tipping point where they could follow in the paths of countries like the U.S., where we are seeing really high levels of obesity and overweight, or they could act now to try to prevent that,” ATNI’s Head of Policy Katherine Pittore said.
She mentioned that the nutrient model, along with the Kenyan government’s dedication to implementing a warning label—making them one of the first African nations to take such a step—shows they are genuinely taking action.
ATNI also pointed out that it’s troubling that over two-thirds of fortified products, like sweet biscuits and yoghurts, which are supposed to have added vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet, are actually deemed unhealthy according to the models.
“You could end up addressing micronutrient deficiencies through some of these products, but also contributing, arguably, towards non-communicable diseases at the same time,” said ATNI Executive Director Greg Garrett.
The report focused on 746 packaged products from the 30 biggest food and beverage companies in Kenya, which accounts for about 57% of the formal packaged market.
Most Packaged Foods in Kenya to Require Health Warning Labels Under New Regulations
