Kenya to Roll Out Strict Nutrition Labels on Packaged Foods

A mother stands in a supermarket aisle with her 7-year-old tugging at her hand, pointing eagerly at a bright red packet of biscuits. The packet shouts words like “whole grain” and “low fat,” and for a moment she almost tosses it into the trolley.

But then her eyes land on two bold, black stop-signs stamped right on the front: “High in Sugar.” “High in Saturated Fat.” She hesitates. Suddenly, what looked like an innocent snack for her child feels like a health risk in disguise.

This is exactly the reaction the Ministry of Health hopes to spark with the newly published Kenya Nutrient Profile Model (KNPM), a sweeping nutrition rulebook that could transform how Kenyans shop, eat, and think about processed foods.

The KNPM lays out strict scientific standards for identifying foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fat and total fat. Under the model, manufacturers will be required to place bold front-of-pack warning labels on products that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) nutrient limits. 

Instead of cheerful slogans like “low sugar” or “gluten-free,” Kenyans may soon see blunt warnings such as High in Sugar, High in Salt, High in Saturated Fat, or High in Fat. A single product can carry more than one warning, depending on its content.

And the change could be sweeping. A recent assessment by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), a global watchdog on food systems, found that about 90 per cent of packaged food and drinks sold in Kenya would require these warning labels under the new rules.

The model also opens the door to future restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children and guides healthier standards for public food procurement. 

“Through this model, the Ministry of Health aims to empower individuals to make informed dietary choices that benefit their health and well-being, while creating an environment that supports sustainable, healthier food systems for all Kenyans,” said Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary for Public Health.

But beyond the labels, Kenya is grappling with a bigger problem. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and some cancers now cause 39 per cent of all deaths in the country. 

The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey shows that obesity rates have tripled since 2000. Today, 45 per cent of women and 19 per cent of men are overweight or obese.

The financial toll is equally alarming. NCDs consumed an estimated Sh230 billion in 2016 from medical bills and lost productivity. If no action is taken, that figure is projected to rise to Sh607 billion annually by 2030. The report further notes that NCDs reduce household income by nearly 29 per cent and cut overall earnings more sharply than communicable diseases.

Kenya is not alone in this fight. Globally, front-of-pack warning labels have shown remarkable results. In Chile, the first country to adopt stop-sign labels in 2016, purchases of sugary drinks dropped by nearly 25 per cent within two years, and many manufacturers reformulated products to avoid the dreaded black signs. 

In Mexico, similar octagonal labels introduced in 2020 cut through flashy marketing and even banned cartoon mascots on unhealthy foods aimed at children.

“Right now, you need a magnifying glass and maybe a degree in food science to figure out how much sugar is in that drink or how salty that instant soup really is. The KNPM flips the script. You will see the warning before you even pick the item up,” explained Celine Awuor, CEO of the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA), which helped draft the model.

Celine Awuor, CEO, The International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA), speaking during the sensitisation event.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly endorsed nutrient profiling as a best practice for tackling diet-related NCDs. It argues that bold, visual warnings cut through marketing fluff and help even low-literacy shoppers make informed choices.

Still, turning the model into reality will take time. The Ministry of Health has outlined a gradual process: drafting and enforcing supporting regulations, engaging food manufacturers and other stakeholders, training regulators and enforcement officers, and running public education campaigns nationwide.

Even so, health experts believe the move is long overdue. “This is a transformative milestone for our national health agenda. The Kenya Nutrient Profile Model gives us the tools to protect consumers, especially children, from harmful marketing practices while empowering families to make informed food choices,” said Martha Oguto from the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN).

The initiative is also tied to Kenya’s long-term goals, including Vision 2030, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being). 

As Dr Patrick Amoth, Director-General for Health, put it, the KNPM is a “solid tool for shaping Kenya’s food environment policies”  one that could help protect present and future generations from the hidden dangers of processed foods.