DG Patrick Amoth
The Ministry of Health has promised to strengthen its existing rules against bad fats in food, known as industrially produced trans fatty acids. These fats are used to make food last longer on the shelf, but they are bad for the heart. The government says they kill more than half a million people around the world every year.
The promise was made at the National Stakeholder Engagement Forum held on July 10 in Nairobi. Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth told the meeting that the day marked an important step in Kenya's plan to build healthier food systems and cut the number of Kenyans who fall sick from bad eating habits.
"Today's forum represents another important milestone in Kenya's journey towards creating healthier food environments and reducing the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases. It demonstrates the Government's commitment to developing public health policies through inclusive stakeholder engagement and partnership," Amoth said, in a speech read by Ministry of Health Programme Manager for Food Environment Policies and Maternal and Infant Nutrition Zachary Muriuki.
Kenya already has a law that controls these harmful fats, called Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015. The law was made under the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act. It set the first rules on fats and oils sold in the country, making Kenya one of the first countries in the region to control industrial trans fats.
But the World Health Organization has since asked all countries to do more. It wants every country to limit industrial trans fats to no more than two grams in every one hundred grams of fat in food, or to stop using partly hydrogenated oils altogether. That is why the Ministry of Health called the Nairobi forum, to gather views from government agencies, food companies, universities and civil society groups on how to update Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015 before the changes are made final.
Trans fats form when vegetable oils are partly hardened through a process called hydrogenation. This makes food last longer, but it is bad for the body. These fats are commonly found in bread, cakes, margarine, fried foods, fast foods and packaged snacks, and in food cooked using oil that has been reused many times. Unlike the small amounts of trans fat found naturally in meat and milk, the industrial kind offers no health benefit and raises the risk of heart disease, stroke and early death.
Amoth explained why this matters so much.
"One of the most harmful yet entirely preventable dietary risk factors is the consumption of industrially produced trans fatty acids. Globally, these fats are responsible for more than half a million deaths from coronary heart disease every year. Unlike naturally occurring trans fats found in small quantities in animal products, industrially produced trans fats provide no known health benefit. Instead, they significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death," Amoth said.
He said the review of Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015 is meant to make it stronger, not to throw it away.
"The proposed review before us therefore seeks to strengthen, not replace, the existing legal framework so that it reflects current scientific evidence, international best practice and Kenya's evolving public health priorities while providing practical implementation and appropriate transition arrangements," Amoth said.
He also spoke directly to food companies, telling them the new rules were not meant to punish them.
"I wish to assure our food industry partners that these reforms are intended not to hinder innovation or competitiveness, but rather to support the production of healthier foods that meet both national and international standards. We look forward to working closely with industry throughout this transition to ensure practical, effective and sustainable implementation," he said.
Under the proposed changes to Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015, food products would be limited to two grams of industrial trans fat in every one hundred grams of total fat. Food companies would also have to state how much trans fat is in their products on the label. A study shared at the forum looked at more than 5,600 processed foods sold in Kenyan supermarkets. It found that only about 1.7 percent of them stated the presence of industrial trans fat on the label. The draft rules also give companies eighteen months to change their recipes before the new limits take effect.
Health officials said the stronger rules could prevent close to 17,000 cases of heart disease and 1,900 deaths in Kenya within the first ten years. Around the world, more than 50 countries now have strong trans fat laws in place, protecting nearly half the world's population, up from just six percent five years ago. Other African countries that have already acted include South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco.
International Institute for Legislative Affairs Kenya Chief Executive Officer Celine Awuor said the proposed legal framework would improve food safety by ensuring only compliant products remain on the market. “The government and regulators are not compelled to test products to verify the declared values on food labels are accurate. Once this legal framework is passed, only products that meet the required standards and are compliant will be allowed on the market,” she said.
