A new report has found that more than 90 per cent of packaged food products sold in Kenya contain unhealthy amounts of sugar, salt, and fat, raising serious concerns for public health, reports Daily Nation.
The findings come from the latest Global Access to Nutrition Index (ATNi), which reviewed the nutritional content of products from over 25 major food and beverage companies active in the Kenyan market.
The study looked at a wide range of products commonly consumed in Kenya, including soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, rice, pasta, noodles, biscuits, snacks, dairy products, edible oils, sauces, cereals, and instant coffee.
The evaluation was based on Kenya’s national nutrient profile model, which sets specific limits for sugar, salt, total fat, and saturated fat across 21 types of processed foods.
Many well-known brands failed to meet these standards. Some baked goods were found to contain too much sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Similar issues were noted in savoury snacks, biscuits, snack bars, fruit snacks, and even in staple items like rice, pasta, and noodles.
The report also pointed out that most companies have not made much progress in making their products healthier. Only a few have started reducing harmful ingredients like added sugar and salt or increasing beneficial ones such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
The findings are especially worrying at a time when Kenya is seeing more cases of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease — all of which are linked to unhealthy diets.
The report comes as Kenya considers introducing stronger food labelling rules to help shoppers make better decisions. The nutrient model used in the study is intended to support clear labels on the front of food packages.
Despite these health concerns, the global food and drink industry continues to grow. Between 2015 and 2019, the industry expanded by 10 per cent and earned an estimated Sh400 trillion ($3.1 trillion) in revenue in 2019, with much of that growth happening in emerging markets like Kenya.
The report recommends that food companies set clear goals with timelines for reducing sugar, salt, and fat in their products. It also advises them not to make health or nutrition claims on products that do not meet formal nutrition standards.
“Companies should help people make better food choices by supporting clear labels on the front of packaging,” the report says.
It also urges companies to stop promoting unhealthy products to children. This includes advertising through TV, social media, or using popular characters, toys, or giveaways to attract children under 18.
On the global stage, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for tougher measures. Its “3 by 35” initiative aims to raise taxes by 50 per cent on sugary drinks, alcohol, and tobacco by 2035 to reduce health problems and increase public funding for care and prevention.
“Raising taxes on products that harm health is a smart move,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, a senior official at WHO. “It helps people cut down on harmful habits and gives governments more money to spend on things like hospitals, schools, and support for families. It’s time to take action.”
