WHO snubs Kenya over weak trans fat enforcement
Trans fats, especially those produced industrially, are commonly found in baked goods, margarine, vegetable shortening, fried foods, and products like Vanaspati ghee.
Kenya has missed out on recognition by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its efforts to eliminate industrially produced trans fats from the food supply, due to weak enforcement of its existing laws.
At the 78th World Health Assembly, WHO director general Tedros Ghebreyesus presented validation certificates to Austria, Norway, Oman, and Singapore for implementing best-practice policies to eliminate trans fats, backed by strong monitoring and enforcement systems.
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“Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is one of the most cost-effective strategies to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular diseases. Trans fats are a major contributor to preventable deaths each year, particularly due to their impact on heart health,” he said.
“These countries are not only protecting the health of their populations, but also setting an exemplary standard for other countries to follow,” he added.
Although Kenya has a legal framework in place, Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015 under the Food, Drugs, and Chemical Substances Act (CAP 254), it lacks specific limits on industrial trans fats, making the law difficult to implement and enforce effectively.
Trans fats, especially those produced industrially, are commonly found in baked goods, margarine, vegetable shortening, fried foods, and products like Vanaspati ghee.
They clog arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease, which cause over 278,000 deaths globally every year.
The WHO says both natural and artificial trans fats are harmful. In 2018, it called for their global elimination.
At that time, only 11 countries had best-practice policies. Today, nearly 60 countries have adopted such policies, covering 46 per cent of the world’s population.
The WHO’s validation programme recognises not just countries that introduce strong policies, but also those that put in place proper systems to monitor and enforce them to protect public health.
In Kenya, the Nairobi-based International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) has been pushing for mandatory regulations to address this gap in the law.
“There is a need to reduce the burden of Non-communicable diseases (NCD). We are advocating for the inclusion of specified limits in the legal notice. As it stands, without these limits, it is not implementable,” said Gideon Ogutu, programme officer for health governance at IILA.
The institute is supporting national efforts to establish a solid legal framework.
If proposals by a technical committee are adopted, manufacturers of edible oils in Kenya will be required to limit industrial trans fat content to two grams per 100 grams of fat.
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