By Melisa Maobe
For years, Kenya has been grappling with diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, which are rising at an alarming rate, threatening the healthcare system and affecting millions of lives.
Increased consumption of processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats is a major contributor to this crisis. Most consumers are often unaware of the nutritional content found in their products.
To address this growing public health crisis, health experts and policymakers are advocating for the adoption of Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL), a simple yet powerful tool designed to help consumers make informed, healthier food choices.
Dr. Catherine Karekezi, Executive Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of Kenya (NCDAK) explains that the alliance’s work is centered around advocacy for Non-Communicable Disease prioritization, especially in areas such as resource allocation, healthcare financing, and health systems strengthening.
“Our primary focus is on advocacy, basically advocating for prioritization of NCDs in terms of resource allocation, including financing, health care, and health system strengthening. We also focus on research and knowledge management again about NCDs,” she says.
Dr. Karekezi emphasizes the importance of involving people with lived experience in policy and program development since they are best at sharing insights on their conditions.
She addresses the rising prevalence of diet-related diseases in Kenya, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and some cancers, linking them to unhealthy diets.
“We focus on meaningful involvement of persons with lived experience of different NCDs because we recognize them as the experts of their conditions and they need to be involved in all areas of NCD prevention and control, including policymaking, monitoring, and evaluation of different programs,” Dr. Karekezi adds.
NCDs are chronic conditions that cannot be transmitted from one person to another, unlike infectious diseases. These illnesses often stem from metabolic or physiological imbalances and, if left untreated, can lead to severe complications, such as kidney failure in unmanaged diabetes. They also require continuous treatment and monitoring because of their lifelong natures.
“These are conditions that are not transmitted from one person to another, unlike infectious diseases like TB or malaria. They also tend to be lifelong conditions so it means that they need continued management and care,” says Dr. Karekezi.
She adds “NCDs stem from the metabolic system or some physiological system in your body and if they’re not well managed, they will cause harm to other areas of the body causing complications which do not heal.”
The increase in diet-related diseases is due to lifestyle changes caused by globalization and urbanization. Most people have replaced traditional nutrient-rich diets with processed, energy-dense foods that are high in refined carbohydrates, fats, and salt.
“The rise in diet-related diseases is due to the change in diet. Today, most people are consuming more processed and packaged foods as a result of globalization and urbanization. They have moved away from the traditional diets which have high levels of nutrients,” she stresses.
Dr. Karekezi identifies that the increase in dietary changes, sedentary lifestyles, and decline in walking due to the rise of convenient transport, and food access have created a significant imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, contributing to obesity, a major risk factor for many NCDs.
“We are consuming high energy dense foods but we’re not using that energy. People are not moving as much. This has been reduced due to the advent of broader and motorized transport. We should more or less balance out our energy requirements. Also, most places have kiosks and markets around so the residents don’t walk for food,” laments Dr. Karekezi.
Why Front-Of-Pack Warning Labels on Packaged Foods Matter— A Health Expert Explains
Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL), is a simple yet prominent warning label on the front of packages that encourage companies to produce and consumers to choose healthier food. These labels indicate which products are high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat; they help consumers make healthier choices.
Dr. Karekezi discusses how FOPWL on packaged foods can help combat the NCD crisis. She explains that the labels serve as clear indicators of products high in sugar, salt, or fat, which are the nutrients most associated with obesity and diet-related diseases.
“Front of park warning labels focus on packaged foods which are highly processed in high sugars, fats, and salts, causing obesity and some of these diet-related NCDs,” she says.
With FOPWL, the public will be aware of foods that are likely to be less healthy, and which should be either avoided or eaten in moderation so one can make an informed choice about choosing healthier options that will prevent them from getting NCDs.
“It’s a way of alerting the public to foods which are less healthy because these foods are high in these nutrients of concern, which have been identified as risk factors to the development of different types of NCDs,” explains Dr. Karekezi.
She highlights some of the challenges in implementing Front-of-Pack Labels in Kenya. Lack of public awareness is one of the major challenges. Many people cannot currently read the nutritional labels on their products, making it hard for them to understand what they are consuming.
“At the moment, many people do not know how to read the labels on foods because they don’t understand the contents of the food. So it’s difficult for them to make a healthier choice,” says Dr. Karekezi.
She notes that the FOPWL is designed to be simpler and more direct, but a robust education campaign will be necessary to explain their purpose and importance to enable the public to make informed choices when it comes to their health.
Dr. Karekezi urges people to understand that the labels are not an infringement on their rights but a tool to protect public health.
“These labels will be simple and will just alert people that this particular product is high in one of these nutrients of concern. The issue of educating the public is going to be critical and if this is not done well, it may present a big roadblock to our goal. People do need to understand that we’re not infringing on their rights,” she elaborates.
She emphasizes the importance of re-educating parents and guardians since children are vulnerable to long-term health consequences of poor diets.
“We also need to re-educate community members, and especially the parents, to understand why these labels are there. They need to know the impact of unhealthy foods on their children’s future health,” she adds.
Another major challenge is industry resistance, particularly due to the costs of implementing new labels.
While Kenya’s Ministry of Health and regulatory bodies support FOPWL, resistance from the food industry is expected. Some companies worry about the cost of changing their packaging. Others fear it might affect sales.
“There’s the issue of government buy-in. Yes, this is an initiative of the Ministry of Health, you’ve got Kenya Bureau of Standards on board, and all those regulators on board,” she explains.
Adding “But then trade and industry also need to understand why, especially when the industry resistance comes in. The cost of implementing these new labels will cause some resistance from the industry, hindering the FOPWL implementation.”
She acknowledges the criticisms that labels alone may not significantly alter consumer behavior, arguing that the effectiveness of FOPWL relies on public education and awareness.
“I can understand where the critics are coming from. However, this will depend on how the labels are introduced and how the community is informed about the reasons why these labels are necessary and the impact of these unhealthy foods on their health,” notes Dr. Karekezi.
Socioeconomic factors can limit one from making healthy choices. Dr. Karekezi admits that for low-income families, choosing healthier foods isn’t always easy. Unhealthy options are often cheaper and more accessible.
“Most of these foods which are high in these nutrients of concern tend to be a lot cheaper than the healthier options. In some cases, if you’re really on a small budget, your choices may be limited because of the economics of the whole situation,” explains Dr. Karekezi.
Beyond labeling, Dr. Karekezi emphasizes the need for widespread public education on NCDs, their risk factors, prevention, and management. Nutrient profiling systems, which inform labeling strategies, are one part of this broader approach.
She also advocates for promoting fresh, nutritious foods, such as green leafy vegetables and fruits, as essential components of a healthy diet.
“I think it’s a whole issue of awareness. Educating the public about NCDs, their risk factors, and prevention because the majority of these conditions are preventable,” stresses Dr. Karekezi.
She further adds “FOPWL focuses on packaged foods. There’s also the other aspect of fresh foods. We also advocate for eating fresh, nutritious foods, such as green leafy vegetables and fruits, as part of a regular diet.”
Countries like Chile, Mexico, and South Africa have already implemented FOPWL with promising results.
Dr. Karekezi underscores the importance of learning from countries that have already implemented FOPWL—pointing out that the focus should be on understanding the implementation process, the resistance those countries encountered, and the strategies they used to overcome their challenges.
“It is important to look at the net impact of these warning labels in countries that have already implemented them,” she says.
Adding “I know each situation is different but We can try and learn how these other countries implemented the FOPWL, the kind of resistance that they faced, and how they overcame those challenges. Then try how we can implement similar things in our context, even if it’s with modifications.”
Addressing both policymakers and the general public, Dr. Karekezi discusses that the aim of clear and accessible food labeling is to empower people with the information they need to make informed dietary choices to prevent NCDs.
“We need to understand that the choices we make today are going to impact our health tomorrow. So these FOPWL and other policies related to healthy eating are all about healthy living in the sense of trying to keep NCDs at bay,” emphasizes Dr. Karekezi.
She stresses “It’s not a matter of infringing on your rights. We’re just trying to give you options so you can make healthy choices for your health tomorrow.”
She highlights the urgent need for public awareness and education on the importance of food labeling to avoid compromising the effectiveness of these policies.
“A lot of public awareness and education is needed. People need to understand why these labels are important. Let’s look at how other countries have responded and embraced these labels,” she urges.
Kenya’s Legislative Push for Front-of-Pack Food Warning Labels
According to Gideon Ogutu, Programme Officer for Health Governance at the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA), these labels are not just stickers on food packages—they are a public health tool that could significantly shift the nation’s dietary habits. He stresses that unhealthy diets are the major contributors to NCDs, so introducing FOPWL will help curb this alarming crisis.
“Front of Pack Warning Labels will contribute to the consumption of healthy diets by reducing the demand for ultra-processed food—informing consumers of products with high nutrients of concern (Sugar, Salt, Saturated Fat, and Total Fat) and thus allowing the consumer to decide on healthier choices,” highlights Ogutu.
Kenya’s legal system offers an avenue for making FOPWL mandatory. The goal is to update existing laws—specifically the Food, Drug, and Chemical Substances Act (Cap 254), to make FOPWL mandatory in the country.
“FOPWL are only effective if they are mandatory—it has to be translated into a legislative decree for it to be so. The law being targeted for this is the Food, Drug, and Chemical Substances regulations which are anchored on an existing act of parliament the Food, Drug, and Chemical Substances Act Cap 254,” elaborates Ogutu.
Beyond legislation, FOPWL plays a crucial role in democratizing information. Ogutu emphasizes that manipulative marketing tactics flooded the food market targeting consumers. He notes that these labels are simple, direct, and accessible to all—enabling consumers to know the kind of nutrient of concern in their products.
“FOPWL is the very definition of giving power back to the consumers, enabling them to make informed decisions on what they consume,” he explains.
He adds “The food market is filled with deceptive marketing techniques which seek to persuade purchase at the cost of information. FOPWL provides information on the nutrients of concern in a simplified, quick, and easy way.”
Ogutu outlines that the FOPWL will complement the existing complex back-of-pack labels—creating accessible information for all consumers regardless of their class and status. It will also help in curbing the rising crisis of NCDs in the country.
“It also supplements the already existing back-of-pack labels which can be a bit complex, making information accessible to all classes of consumers. The FOPWL is also centered on health since it informs on the nutrients of concern whose consumption on health can increase the risk for contracting NCDs,” Ogutu says.
The push for mandatory FOPWL is not without ease.
Ogutu acknowledges the expected challenges and assures that Kenya is learning from other countries’ experiences to prevent industry interference from becoming a crisis.
They are also adhering to the guidelines on policy and regulation development to prevent litigation and enable consumers to prioritize their health over income.
“We are anticipating industry interference during the stakeholder engagement process and public participation. We are learning from other countries who have already implemented this and had similar challenges—aiming to fill those gaps before they turn into a problem,” he explains.
He further emphasizes “ We are also strictly adhering to the guideline on policy and regulation development so as to not give a leeway for litigation and also to allow consumers to have a regulation which prioritizes their health over profits.”
To gain momentum, public awareness and civil society engagement are vital. Ogutu stresses that the public’s voice in this push for mandatory FOPWL matters a lot. IILA is actively collaborating with other stakeholders to build a united advocacy front, amplifying their message across sectors to have more holistic strategies to advocate for FOPWL.
“FOPWL is for the public. Their voice matters and therefore their awareness of FOPWL, as well as their support, is very crucial for the success of this regulation,” emphasizes Ogutu.
Adding “IILA is actively engaging with other partners in the Food Environment space so as to have a united front in pushing these policies as well as leverage on each other’s expertise so as to have more holistic strategies to advocate for FOPWL.”
Ogutu reveals that FOPWL has a lot of opportunities, highlighting the role that the Kenya Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) has played in forming the official document for the implementation of FOPWL.
“There is immense goodwill and opportunities for FOPWL. We have a Kenya Nutrient Profile Model which forms the official technical document for the development of FOPWL which sets the center stage for an evidence-based FOPWL,” he shares.
He stresses that FOPWL will be crucial in curbing the rising cases of obesity and other diet-related diseases which have been highlighted in the NCD strategic plan, Kenya Nutrition Action Plan, and Kenya Health Policy.
“There has also been immense focus on the rising cases of obesity and other diet- related NCDs which have been highlighted in the NCD strategic plan, Kenya Nutrition Action Plan, and Kenya Health Policy. FOPWL being at the forefront of reverting this trend has a great backing which will propel its development and adoption,” explains Ogutu.
In a country grappling with rising cases of obesity and diet-related illnesses, the call for action is growing louder. Through concerted legal, civic, and policy efforts, FOPWL could become a transformative tool—informing choices, safeguarding health, and holding the food industry accountable.