Most packaged food and beverage products sold by the country’s top food manufacturers would require health warning labels under new nutrition rules drafted by the government. This is according to a new independent report by the non-profit Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI).

The report assessed 746 products from the 30 largest local and international food and beverage companies operating in Kenya, representing more than half of the formal packaged food market.

It found that more than 90 per cent of the products contained excessive levels of salt, sugar, or saturated fats, as defined by Kenya’s recently released nutrient profile model. Kenya’s nutrient profile model, published this month, is designed to guide the development of front-of-package warning labels, similar to regulations adopted in countries such as Chile and Mexico.

The move signals a significant shift in Kenya’s food policy as the government responds to a rapid increase in diet-related diseases.

Some of the companies assessed in the report include Coca-Cola, Bidco Africa, New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (NKCC), Kevian Kenya, Brookside Dairy, Highland Mineral Water, Nestlé, Mini Bakeries, Kapa Oil Refineries, and Capwell Industries.  The findings suggest that products from both global food giants and domestic manufacturers may soon face stricter labelling rules.

Based on the government’s model, a wide range of items currently on supermarket shelves from soft drinks and juices to baked goods, processed meats, and instant noodles—would be flagged for containing nutrient levels considered harmful for regular consumption.

In addition to applying the Kenyan nutrient profile model, the researchers evaluated the same products using internationally recognised systems like Nutri-Score, which also account for beneficial nutrients such as fibre, protein, and vitamins. Under this broader assessment, nearly two-thirds of the products would still be categorized as unhealthy.

Tipping point

“The findings reveal a concerning pattern,” said Katherine Pittore, Head of Policy at ATNI. “Kenya is at this tipping point where they could follow in the paths of countries like the US, where we are seeing really high levels of obesity and overweight, or they could act now to try to prevent that.”

The ATNI report marks the organization’s first detailed assessment in an African market, alongside a parallel study in Tanzania. While the non-profit has previously conducted research in countries such as the United States and India, this effort reflects a growing focus on developing regions where food consumption habits are shifting rapidly.

Kenya is experiencing a surge in the consumption of processed foods. Sales of packaged food rose by 16 per cent between 2018 and 2023. Over the same period, adult obesity rates have climbed sharply. The report cites that 45 per cent of Kenyan women and 19 per cent of men are now overweight or obese, compared to significantly lower rates two decades ago.

Public health experts say the shift in dietary patterns—driven by increased urbanisation, rising incomes, and the aggressive marketing of convenience foods—has created a silent epidemic of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

ATNI also highlighted the risks of relying on fortified processed products such as yoghurts or sweetened biscuits to address micronutrient deficiencies. Although these products may be enriched with essential vitamins and minerals, they often contain high levels of sugar or saturated fat. “You could end up addressing micronutrient deficiencies through some of these products, but also contributing, arguably, towards non-communicable diseases at the same time,” Greg Garrett, Executive Director of ATNI said in the report seen by Reuters.

Fortified foods are a key part of nutrition strategies in many low- and middle-income countries, where deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, and iodine remain widespread. However, the report warns that the long-term health trade-offs of promoting fortified but unhealthy products must be considered carefully.

While the Kenyan government has not yet issued a formal response to the report, it has committed to using its nutrient profile model as the basis for a new front-of-package warning system. If implemented, Kenya would become one of the first African nations to take such a step.

Company policies

The report’s “Corporate Profile” component also reviewed company policies, transparency, and product reformulation efforts. While some firms have pledged to reduce sugar and salt in their products or improve labelling, ATNI found that the pace of change remains slow, especially in low-income markets where regulatory pressure is less intense.

In past global reports, ATNI has found that food and beverage companies often sell less healthy versions of their products in poorer countries compared to wealthier ones. For instance, soft drinks, snacks, and cereals sold in European or North American markets often contain less sugar or smaller portion sizes than the same brands sold in Africa or Asia.

The Kenya report underlines the urgency for both government regulators and food producers to rethink their strategies in emerging markets. With urbanisation on the rise and the consumer base expanding, the stakes are growing higher.

“The Kenyan government is taking important steps by releasing the nutrient profile and signalling its intention to adopt warning labels,” said Pittore.

“But it will also take action from the private sector—reformulating products, reducing harmful ingredients, and improving transparency—to shift the trajectory of public health.”

Data from the report suggests that if the current trajectory continues unchecked, the burden of non-communicable diseases in Kenya could rival or surpass infectious diseases in the coming decades.