Kenya is moving to tighten regulations on industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs) in food products as part of efforts to reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly heart disease and stroke.
Health experts made the case during the National Stakeholder Engagement Forum on the proposed review of Legal Notice No. 25 of 2015, saying stricter controls on industrial trans fats are essential to improving public health and advancing Universal Health Coverage through disease prevention.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), industrially produced trans fats contribute to more than 278,000 deaths globally every year. The WHO recommends either limiting trans fats to no more than two grams per 100 grams of total fat in all foods or banning partially hydrogenated oils from food production.
Health experts at the forum said adopting the proposed standards in Kenya could prevent an estimated 17,000 heart disease cases and nearly 1,900 deaths over the next decade.
Proposed regulations
Under the proposed amendments, all food products would be restricted to a maximum of two grams of industrial trans fat per 100 grams of total fat.
Manufacturers, importers and distributors would also be required to declare trans fat content on food labels, allowing consumers to make informed purchasing decisions while strengthening regulatory oversight.
The draft regulations further introduce a legal definition of industrial trans fats, mandatory nutrition declarations, measurable compliance standards and restrictions on the sale of products that exceed the prescribed limit.
To allow businesses time to comply, the government has proposed an 18-month transition period for manufacturers and importers to reformulate products.
Health concerns
Industrial trans fats are produced mainly through the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils and are commonly found in processed foods such as baked goods, margarine, fried foods, fast food, packaged snacks and products prepared using repeatedly reused cooking oil.
Speaking during the forum, Ministry of Health Programme Manager for Food Environment Policies and Maternal and Infant Nutrition Zachary Muriuki said industrial trans fats offer no nutritional value and significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
He urged food manufacturers to reformulate their products, arguing that healthier consumers are beneficial for both businesses and the economy.
“The industry needs now to come on board and reformulate because businesses depend on their customers. If your product is poisoning or killing your customers, then you are not doing any good to yourself or to the economy of Kenya,” Muriuki said.
He added that technical experts were working together to strengthen consumer protection by ensuring harmful trans fats are eliminated from the food supply.
Stronger consumer protection
Research presented during the stakeholder forum found that while only about 1.7 per cent of approximately 5,668 processed food products surveyed in Kenyan supermarkets declared industrial trans fat ingredients on their labels, many contained ingredients associated with industrial trans fats, leaving consumers unaware of potential health risks.
International Institute for Legislative Affairs Kenya Chief Executive Officer Celine Awuor said the proposed legal framework would improve food safety by ensuring only compliant products remain on the market.
“The government and regulators are not compelled to test products to verify the declared values on food labels are accurate. Once this legal framework is passed, only products that meet the required standards and are compliant will be allowed on the market,” she said.
Kenya leads regional effort
Ministry of Health Head of the Division of Food Safety Brenda Nakhumicha said Kenya is the first country in the East African region to review and adopt regulations specifically targeting industrial trans fats.
She said the legal notice has been incorporated into the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act, providing a stronger legal foundation for regulating harmful food ingredients and protecting public health.
The Ministry of Health has invited stakeholders from government, academia, research institutions, civil society, consumer organisations and the food industry to review the draft regulations and submit comments before they are finalised.
