Calls for stricter labelling laws as 90 per cent of packaged foods in Kenya deemed unhealthy
The findings, released by the Access to Nutrition Initiative, show that 90 per cent of packaged food and beverage products, both local and international, fail to meet recommended limits for salt, sugar, or fat content.
A major new review has revealed that the vast majority of packaged food products sold in Kenya are unhealthy, with most containing excessive amounts of salt, sugar, or saturated fat. This trend poses a growing public health risk as consumption of processed foods continues to rise.
The findings, released by the Access to Nutrition Initiative, show that 90 per cent of packaged food and beverage products, both local and international, fail to meet recommended limits for salt, sugar, or fat content.
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About 75 per cent of these products would be classified as unhealthy under global models like Nutri-Score, which evaluate both harmful and beneficial nutrients. This contrasts with Kenya’s current nutrition labelling system, which does not account for positive nutrients.
The review, conducted by Nutrition Markets Impact, assessed 746 products from 30 food and beverage companies.
It found that sales of ultra-processed packaged foods in Kenya rose by 16 per cent between 2017 and 2023, coinciding with a rise in obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, particularly in urban areas.
Obesity in Kenya
Currently, obesity affects 13.4 per cent of adult women and 3.6 per cent of adult men in Kenya.
Although these rates are lower than the regional averages of 20.8 per cent for women and 9.2 per cent for men, the upward trend is concerning.
Diabetes prevalence is also high, affecting 7.3 per cent of adult women and 7 per cent of men.
In response, the government is developing regulations that would require food manufacturers to place warning labels on products that exceed certain health risk thresholds.
Although the proposed law is still under consideration, it signals a move towards greater oversight and the promotion of healthier consumer choices.
Health Star Rating
According to the assessment, only 33 per cent of the products met the Health Star Rating (HSR) threshold of 3.5 stars or higher.
When product sales are taken into account, this figure improves slightly to 38 per cent. Including micronutrient fortification raises the percentage to 36 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively.
Out of all the products reviewed, only 140 were fortified, and just 32 per cent of these met the HSR criteria for being considered healthy. Of the fortified products, 120 were voluntarily enhanced.
Seven companies, including Bidco and Kapa Oil, fortify edible oils with vitamins A and D, while Capwell fortifies maize and wheat flour in line with Kenya’s food fortification regulations.
Notably, Flora FG is the only company with a publicly stated global commitment to fortify only those products it classifies as healthy, following Codex and WHO/FAO guidelines.
The World Health Organisation identified just 14 products as suitable for marketing to children, representing only 23 per cent of total product sales.
Warning label
Furthermore, only about 10 per cent of all products evaluated met the Kenya Nutrition Profiling Model (NPM) threshold, which would exempt them from needing a warning label.
While some companies, including Bidco, New KCC, and Capwell, market their products as affordable or nutritious, the report notes that none have publicly defined the criteria for affordability or healthiness.
Kapa Oil tracks its pricing against competitors, and Flora FG monitors household access to its products among low-income families.
Five companies—Coca-Cola, Flora FG, Kapa Oil, Kevian, and Nestlé—support at least one aspect of workforce nutrition, such as offering healthy meals, providing breastfeeding support, conducting health checks, or delivering nutrition education to staff.
In addition, Kenyan firms like Brookside, Capwell, and Kevian have stated on their websites a commitment to providing nutritious or healthy products.
However, the report highlights widespread gaps in transparency, consistency, and measurable strategies across the industry.
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