The government has been urged to tighten trans-fat regulations on industrially produced trans-fat products to reduce the risk of heart disease and related deaths.
The call comes as the country marks world heart day 2026under the campaign message, “Do Not Miss a Beat” which highlights the importance of recognising cardiovascular disease risks and symptoms.
“Adopting strong regulations to eliminate industrially produced trans fats would be an important step towards protecting the health of Kenyans,” Kelvin Mithamo, Programme Officer, International Institute for Legislative Affairs said.
“Kenya has already recognised the risks, and now we need to close the policy gap and ensure that stronger protections are in place.”
The World Health Organisation recommends that countries limit industrially produced trans fats to no more than two grammes per 100 grammes of total trans fat in all foods or ban partially hydrogenated oils which are a major source of harmful fats
“Trans fats have no known health benefits,” WHO has warned noting that high intake increases the risk of coronary heart disease and mortality.
Kenya introduced regulations addressing trans fatty acids and hydrogenated fats in 2015 through legal notice no 115.
However, the regulations did not establish the comprehensive national limit currently recommended by WHO as best practice.
According to Kenya’s national guidelines for cardio vascular disease management, cardiovascular diseases account for about 25 per cent of hospital admissions highlighting the growing public health burden.
The ministry of health has also reported that non communicable diseases account for 39 percent of deaths annually in Kenya.
Industrially produced trans fats are commonly found in some baked goods and fried foods, margarine and processed snacks they increase levels of bad cholesterol while reducing good cholesterol rising the risk of cardiovascular complications.
Research by the George Institute of Global Health and International Institute for Legislative Affairs estimates that adopting WHO- recommended limits could prevent approximately 17,000 heart diseases cases over 10 years.
The research further projects health care savings of about us $40 million equivalent to 1 billion.
The researchers have urged the government to introduce mandatory limits covering locally manufactured and imported foods supported by laboratory testing monitoring enforcement .
Kenya is now being encouraged to build on its 2015 regulatory foundation by eliminating industrially produced trans fats and making the food supply safer for consumers nationwide
