Kenya is working on a proposed guideline that will steer food manufacturers to incorporate front of package labels, indicating clearly marked allergens, and clarified nutrition content to deter misleading claims.
The front of package labelling guideline development comes in the backdrop of studies revealing that there is increase availability and consumption of commercially processed complimentary foods being given to children which have a direct effect on their health, growth and development.
Presenting at the 14th Kemri Annual Scientific and Health conference panel discussion on complimentary feeding : The role of different sectors organized by academic research networks- scaling up nutrition movement, Food Security and Nutrition Specialist, ministry of agriculture, Dr Mary Mwale said that the government in consultation with private sector stakeholders is working on a guideline to steer front-of-package nutrition labelling system for all food products requiring nutrition and health labelling.
“The guideline will not only address deceptive marketing practices that confuse consumers but also promote transparency to enable consumers understand what they are purchasing and consuming, and facilitate healthier decision-making,” Dr Mwale said adding ‘that it will not be a mandatory requirement but are critical tools for communicating product information to consumers and gateway to understanding a product’s composition, nutritional content, and safety information.”
She explained that majority of people especially in urban areas source complimentary feeding products in the supermarket therefore food processors should use of sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods which would benefit public health since complimentary feeding is where growth faulting starts.
Dr Mwale said that some complimentary food targeting young children do contain too much sugar, too much salt and too much oily something which exposes them to non-communicable diseases at a younger age.
“some complimentary feeds may contain too much preservatives which can expose young children to cancers,” she said.
According to preliminary study presented at the KASH conference by African population and health research Centre (APHRC) researcher, Antonina Mutoro, ‘titled understanding purchasing and consumption patterns of commercially processed foods and caregiver motivations in Nairobi,’ there is a need for policy environment to be strengthened to regulate production, marketing and consumption of complimentary foods because some health and nutritional claims maybe misleading yet majority of caregivers make purchasing decisions guided by the package nutritional and health labels.
In her study findings, majority of households both in formal and informal settings make their complimentary food purchasing decisions going by the package labels on health and nutrition contents of the product therefore a need for regulations to guide food labeling on their nutrition and health benefits.
While National Coordinator Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance, Edgar Okoth, said that communities need to be sensitized on benefits of complimentary feeding inorder to create demand for the products.
“Caregivers should be informed and empowered so that they are able to make informed decisions to provide safe, adequate and healthy foods for their children,” Edgar said adding that “Our statistics on stunting rates is not very impressive we are at 18 percent and that is a cause for worry, mothers should understand what they feed their children thus stakeholders have come together to ensure we have guidelines on the front of pack labeling.”
