Nairobi: The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has dismissed allegations that sugar-free soft drinks are being sold with undisclosed sulphur-based sweeteners, including Acesulfame-K, without proper consumer warnings, Y News reported.
The clarification comes after the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) claimed some sugar-free beverages on the market contain additives deemed unsafe for human consumption. COFEK questioned why such ingredients appear in “tiny, unreadable” ingredient lists with no allergy warnings, contrasting with transparent labelling in products such as wine.
KEBS countered that the claims are misleading and overlook established international safety standards. Under Kenyan regulations, manufacturers are required to declare sulphur-containing ingredients only when concentrations exceed 10 mg/kg, a threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) joint expert committee. “It is not true that there are ingredients being sneaked into products,” KEBS said, adding that the threshold protects consumers sensitive to sulphur compounds, including those prone to allergic reactions.
The regulator also emphasized that all food additives used in soft drinks undergo approval and scrutiny before being allowed in the market. Manufacturers must list all ingredients on product labels, and compliance is monitored through inspections, lab testing, and enforcement where violations occur.
The clarification arrives amid rising scrutiny of Kenya’s soft drinks sector, particularly sugar-free and low-sugar beverages, as policymakers explore measures to combat obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases. Last year, Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur proposed a Health Promotion Levy on sugary drinks to incentivize reformulation and fund public health initiatives.
KEBS urged consumers to rely on verified regulatory guidance and official standards, warning that misinformation could undermine confidence in food safety oversight.
