Kenya could potentially save 50,000 lives and avert over 100,000 new cases of cardiovascular disease by enforcing strict national limits on industrially produced Trans fats in all food items sold across the country.
Research done by The George Institute for Global Health, shows that apart from the lives saved this move would also save the country over KSh 28 billion, significantly reducing the burden on Kenya’s healthcare system.
Industrially produced Trans fatty acids (iTFAs) are a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Despite this, they remain unregulated and present in many commonly consumed foods in Kenya. The Ministry of Health (MoH) reports that more than 50 percent of hospital admissions in the country are due to NCDs, 25 percent of which are cardiovascular diseases.
Gideon Ogutu, Programme Officer for Health Governance at the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) noted that Trans fats can be linked to numerous health issues including diabetes and Cardiovascular disease.
“Trans fats are dangerous because they increase the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), often referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’, while reducing levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or ‘good cholesterol’ which help remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, this in turn leads to plaque formation, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular complications.” he explained.
Trans fats are also linked to increased insulin resistance, especially in people with conditions such as diabetes. When cells become resistant to insulin, blood sugar levels rise, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Kenya already has a regulatory framework in place under Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015, a piece of subsidiary legislation made under the Food, Drugs, and Chemical Substances Act (CAP 254). This law governs the labeling, advertising, and composition of food, including fats and oils. It however remains unenforceable because it lacks clear limits on the amount of Trans fats allowed.
“We already have a legal framework in place but it lacks one critical component-clear limits. While the legal notice mentions Trans fats, it does not specify the permissible limits, which makes it difficult to implement effectively.”
Mentioning IILA’s advocacy efforts he added, “Our current goal in Kenya is to revise this legal notice to include specific limits on industrially produced Trans fats. Our aim is to make it actionable and truly geared toward eliminating these harmful substances from our food.”
WHO recommends that Trans -fats limit should be at 2 grams per 100 grams of total fat in all foods. In Africa countries like South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt have already adopted specific legislation targeting Trans fats.
The WHO’s R.E.P.L.A.C.E. initiative is a package aimed at eliminating Trans fatty acids (TFA) by 2025, the package offers countries a roadmap to elimination through legislation, monitoring, and public education.
Kenya is making progress, having committed to this goal through the National NCD Strategic Plan (2021/22–2025/26), which seeks to establish TFA regulations and minimize exposure to modifiable risk factors and improve health outcomes.
According to Mr. Ogutu who is also a Nutrition scientist, the rising burden of NCDs could be addressed by the revising and fully implementing the of Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015.He maintains that industrially produced trans fats are not essential in food production and can be replaced with healthier alternatives.
“Trans fats have zero health benefits. Absolutely none. You may try to find some justification but the science is clear. They offer no benefits and cause 100 per cent harm. The health effects are severe and cannot be ignored.
“The good news is, industrially produced Trans fats are modifiable. We can control them, regulate them, and shift our food processing methods to eliminate them entirely. And that’s what we are trying to do.”
As part of fulfilling the public education component of the REPLACE package, IILA is pushing for Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) to promote transparency and help consumers make informed food choices.
“We are pushing for manufactures to declare the levels of Trans fatty acids in the front-of-the-pack labels.”
