As World Heart Day is marked annually on September 29, Kenya has been urged to adopt stronger regulations to eliminate industrially produced trans fats to reduce cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a leading public health concern. According to Kenya’s National Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Management, approximately 25 percent of hospital admissions are attributed to cardiovascular diseases, while 13 percent of autopsies identify cardiovascular diseases as the cause of death.
The Ministry of Health has also reported that non-communicable diseases account for 39 percent of deaths annually in Kenya. Behind these statistics are families losing loved ones, facing medical bills and coping with lost income. The International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) is calling for action to close the policy gap and strengthen consumer protection.
Although Kenya reviewed its regulations through Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015, calls for more stringent measures continue. Kenya is yet to fully align with World Health Organization recommendations to limit industrially produced trans fats to no more than two grams per 100 grams of fat in food, eliminate partially hydrogenated oils altogether, and mandate clear nutritional labelling for consumers.
The World Health Organization says the theme ‘Don’t Miss a Beat’ for World Heart Day is an opportunity for Member States, WHO, and stakeholders to renew our shared goal to reduce preventable and premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases include hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets high in salt and fats, and physical inactivity.
Research by The George Institute for Global Health and IILA found that limiting industrially produced trans fats to the WHO-recommended level in Kenya could prevent approximately 17,000 cases of heart disease and 2,000 deaths over the first 10 years, while generating an estimated net saving of about 40 million US dollars (Ksh 4.1 billion) for Kenya’s healthcare system.
“Adopting strong regulations to eliminate industrially produced trans fats would be an important step towards protecting the health of Kenyans,” said Kelvin Mithamo, Programme Officer at IILA. Civil society organisations said consumer protection laws and measures supporting healthier food environments should be effectively implemented and enforced.
Consequently, IILA and other civil society organisations are urging Kenya to urgently adopt and implement a mandatory limit for industrially produced trans fats across the food supply, covering both locally manufactured and imported foods, backed by monitoring, laboratory testing and effective enforcement. World Heart Day serves as a reminder of the need for collective action to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in Kenya.
Key points
- Kenya has been urged to adopt stronger regulations to eliminate industrially produced trans fats.
- Non-communicable diseases account for 39 percent of deaths annually in Kenya.
- Limiting industrially produced trans fats could prevent approximately 17,000 cases of heart disease and 2,000 deaths over the first 10 years.
