Daniel Kituu, a healthy food advocate, addressing representatives from the five NGOs that form the Food Policy Coalition Kenya during the launch of the national mass media campaign on 6th May 2026/ ALICE WAITHERAKenyans’ feeding habits could soon change if proposals to introduce mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods are adopted.
The proposed labels will make it easier for consumers to identify products high in sugar, salt, total fat and saturated fat, as the government steps up efforts to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Advocates of the campaign say many consumers currently struggle to determine how healthy packaged foods are because important nutrition information is often difficult to interpret or buried in small print.
Celine Awuor, CEO of the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA), said the proposed labels will give shoppers clearer information at the point of purchase.
“The aim is to help shoppers quickly identify products that contain high levels of nutrients linked to diet-related health risks,” Awuor said.
The push comes as Kenya strengthens measures to prevent diseases linked to unhealthy diets, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and obesity.
The Ministry of Health adopted the Kenya Nutrient Profile Model (KNPM) in 2025, establishing thresholds for nutrients including salt, total sugar, total fat and saturated fatty acids.
The model is intended to help determine which foods are considered unhealthy and guide policies on front-of-pack labelling, marketing of unhealthy foods and consumer awareness.
Kenya became the first country in the East Africa to officially adopt a nutrient profile model, following years of advocacy by civil society organisations pushing for stronger controls on unhealthy food products.
The coalition includes organisations such as the Institute for Integrated Legal and Health Approaches, The Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN), African Population & Health Research Centre, the National Council of Churches of Kenya and the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of Kenya.
Under the proposed system, packaged foods containing excessive amounts of nutrients associated with health risks would carry clear symbols on the front of the package, allowing consumers to make quicker choices without having to interpret detailed nutritional tables.
Awuor said the labels will also strengthen consumers’ right to make informed decisions about what they eat.
“Consumers have a right to know what is in their food. These labels will make important nutrition information visible and easy to understand,” she said.
The proposed intervention comes against the backdrop of a heavy NCD burden in Kenya.
The Ministry of Health has previously indicated that NCDs account for about 43 per cent of deaths in the country and nearly half of hospital admissions, placing additional pressure on a health system already dealing with infectious diseases and other conditions.
Poor diets, physical inactivity, urbanisation and changing consumption patterns have increasingly been identified among the factors driving the rise in diet-related illnesses.
The government has expanded community-based screening for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, while Primary Care Networks have been established across all 47 counties.
Over eight million households have also been registered through the electronic Community Health Information System, providing a platform for tracking health risks and strengthening preventive services.
Allan Maleche, a health rights advocate, observed that consumers need accessible and understandable information if they are expected to make healthier choices.
He argued that front-of-pack labels should form part of a wider package of measures addressing the availability, promotion and marketing of unhealthy foods.
The policy debate has drawn lessons from countries that have already introduced similar measures.
Chile, for instance, introduced mandatory black warning labels on packaged foods and beverages containing excessive levels of nutrients such as sugar, sodium and calories in 2018.
Purchases of products carrying warning labels were associated with a 37 per cent reduction in sugar, a 22 per cent reduction in sodium and a 23 per cent reduction in calories from labelled products.
Kenyan advocates believe the experience demonstrates how clear warning labels can complement other measures aimed at improving diets.
Maleche said consumers should not be left to navigate an increasingly complex food market without adequate information.
“Warning labels and marketing controls work together to protect children and families. The goal is not to restrict choice, but to ensure truthful information and healthier environments,” he said.
He said front-of-pack labelling will complement existing government interventions by addressing unhealthy dietary practices before they contribute to the development of diet-related diseases.
For advocates, the proposed labels therefore represent more than a change in packaging.
They are part of a broader shift towards prevention, where consumers are given simple information while manufacturers face greater pressure to reduce excessive amounts of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats in processed foods.
Instant Analysis
Advocates of the campaign argue that many consumers currently struggle to determine how healthy packaged foods are because important nutrition information is often difficult to interpret or buried in small print.
The proposed labels would make it easier for consumers to identify products high in sugar, salt, total fat and saturated fat, as the government steps up efforts to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
