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Kenya is moving forward with a significant strengthening of its regulatory framework concerning industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs). The nation proposes imposing stricter limits on their presence in food products, a critical measure aimed at mitigating the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among its population.
During the National Stakeholder Engagement Forum, which convened to discuss the proposed amendments to Legal Notice No. 25 of 2015, health experts from the Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of eradicating industrially produced trans fats from the national food supply. They highlighted this as an essential step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through focused prevention and health promotion initiatives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for governments to adopt best-practice policies for trans fat elimination. These policies typically involve either setting a mandatory maximum limit of 2 grams of trans fat per 100 grams of total fat across all food items or implementing a comprehensive ban on the production and use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) as a food ingredient. Globally, industrially produced trans fats are a contributing factor to over 278,000 deaths annually.
Experts project that the introduction of a mandatory limit on industrially produced trans fats in Kenya could significantly improve public health outcomes, potentially preventing approximately 17,000 heart disease events and averting 1,900 deaths within the initial decade of implementation. Over a lifetime, the policy is estimated to prevent about 49,000 deaths and 113,000 heart disease events. Stakeholders at the forum underscored prevention as one of the most cost-effective public health investments, stressing that reducing exposure to industrial trans fats can substantially lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, before their onset.
Industrially produced trans fats are commonly formed during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils. They are frequently found in a wide array of processed foods, such as bread, baked goods, margarine, various fried foods, fast foods, packaged snacks, and products prepared with repeatedly reused cooking oil. Naturally occurring trans fats, found in small quantities in meat and dairy from ruminant animals, are distinct from their industrial counterparts.
Under the draft regulations, food products would be restricted to a maximum of two grams of industrially produced trans-fatty acids per 100 grams of total fat. Furthermore, manufacturers, importers, and distributors would face new requirements to declare the presence and exact quantity of trans fats on food labels. This measure is designed to enhance consumer awareness and bolster regulatory enforcement.
The proposed amendments also introduce a clear legal definition for trans fats, mandate specific nutrition declarations, establish measurable standards for trans-fat content, and impose restrictions on the sale of food products that fail to meet the prescribed limits. To facilitate compliance, the draft regulations include an 18-month transition period, providing manufacturers, importers, and distributors ample time to reformulate their products to align with the new requirements.
Zachary Muriuki, Program Manager for Food Environment Policies and Maternal/Infant Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, articulated that industrially produced trans fats offer no nutritional value and substantially elevate the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. He contrasted these with naturally occurring trans fats, which are present in minimal amounts in certain animal products. Muriuki highlighted the economic imperative of these regulations, observing that businesses benefit from a healthy customer base in the long term. He warned that products containing harmful levels of trans fats can contribute to disease and premature deaths, ultimately harming both consumers and the broader Kenyan 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 stated. He added, 'Technical experts, myself included, are coming together in a stronger way to protect consumers. Many people may not understand what it means when a product contains trans-fatty acids, and that is why we are working to ensure these regulations are implemented.'
Research presented at the forum revealed that among approximately 5,668 processed food products surveyed in Kenyan supermarkets, only about 1.7 per cent explicitly declared the presence of industrial trans-fat ingredients. A significant number of these products, however, contained ingredients associated with industrial trans fats, leaving many consumers unaware of their exposure. Presenters contended that strengthening labelling requirements would empower consumers to make informed dietary choices while providing regulators with more robust tools for monitoring compliance.
Celine Awuor, Chief Executive Officer of the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) Kenya, affirmed that consumers will be protected once the legal framework is in place to ensure that only compliant products meeting required standards are permitted in 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,' Awuor remarked.
Brenda Nakhumicha, Head of the Division of Food Safety at the Ministry of Health, proudly announced Kenya's leadership in the East African region regarding the introduction of a legal framework to regulate industrial trans fats. 'We are proud as Kenya being the first country in the East African region to review and adopt this legal notice. This legal notice has now been incorporated under the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act,' she explained, emphasizing that this integration will provide Kenya with a robust legal framework to regulate industrial trans fats and safeguard public health.
Participants in the forum, comprising representatives from government, academia, research institutions, civil society, consumer organisations, and the food industry, were invited to review the draft regulations and submit their comments before the amendments are finalised. Kenya joins a growing list of African nations that have already adopted measures to eliminate industrial trans fats, including South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco. Source: KBC Digital