The lax laws in food labelling in Kenya could be keeping individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity sick, according to a recent study.
In Kenya, food producers are mandated to list detailed information on their products, such as full ingredient lists, nutrition facts and expiry dates.
More often than not, this standardised information is printed in text-heavy format on the back or side of the packaging.
According to a study published on the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, this crucial information is not only basically hidden but also hard to decipher for the ordinary Kenyan.
On the contrary, front-of-pack labels (FOPL), which are simplified labels on the front of food packaging, designed to help consumers quickly assess healthiness through symbols, colours, or ratings, are easier to process
The study, which included testing 2,198 individuals from four counties, revealed that a vast majority of participants correctly identified nutrients of concern in food products before and after FOPL exposure.
These FOPL include clear warnings like "High in sugar" or "High in salt" in a large, recognisable font on the front of the packaging.
Ultimately, people suffering from chronic illnesses like hypertension can know which foods are high in sodium and thus not good for their health, while those who suffer from diabetes can easily tell the sugary foods to avoid.
Although other countries like Chile, Mexico and Israel have already introduced mandatory warning labels resulting in improved overall public health, Kenya is yet to make the bold move.
However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has expressed willingness to take on the challenge and jump on the bandwagon.
In a press release in April 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that the country would accelerate several food environment policies, including front-of-pack nutrition labelling and marketing restrictions on unhealthy foods, especially those targeting children.
This, he said, could help counter the influx of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which contribute to 39 per cent of deaths in Kenya, over 50 per cent of hospital admissions, and 11 per cent of health expenditure.
The timeline of this implementation is, however, yet to be determined.
