Introducing mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) is emerging as a key public health strategy to address the growing problem with diet-related diseases, experts have advised.
According to health experts, dietary diseases are a leading cause of illness and death in the country, making it urgent to find ways to help people make healthier food choices.
The experts have argued that FOPWL can be an important tool in this effort, offering clear nutritional information that helps people better understand how their food choices affect their health.
“FOPWL empowers consumers to make informed choices about their diets, which supports healthier eating habits. These labels are designed to be clear and straightforward, warning consumers about foods high in nutrients of concern (sugar, salt, saturated fat and total fat),” Celine Awour said.
Awuor is the CEO of the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA).
She said that by displaying the information such as ‘high in sugar/salt’ on the front panel of the food package FOPWL helps people make better nutritional choices and think more carefully about what they eat.
“This is especially important in a market full of unhealthy food options that often have high levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats,” Awuor said.
According to the experts, the impact of FOPWL extends far beyond individual consumer choices - they have the potential to inform and shape broader public health policies that can lead to meaningful changes in the food environment.
“These labels not only inform consumers but can also inform measures on restricting marketing of unhealthy foods to children,” Timothy Wafula has said.
Wafula leads the Health and Governance Thematic area at the Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN).
This dual function of FOPWL is particularly important in protecting families from misleading marketing practices.
Through supporting policies that control how unhealthy foods are promoted, FOPWL can build a healthier future for the next generation, guiding them away from harmful eating habits.
The experts said that transparency on what is contained in our food is another critical aspect of consumer empowerment that FOPWL addresses.
“Consumers deserve to know if a product has too much sugar, salt, or fat. FOPWL meets this need for transparency, helping individuals to make informed choices and the nutritional value of the products they are eating,” Imelda Namayi, the technical lead for Health and Education at the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) noted.
It is argued that openness is essential in a market where many products are misleadingly marketed as healthy or low-calorie, which can confuse people and lead to unhealthy choices.
The increasing prevalence of diet-related NCDs poses a major public health challenge in Kenya, demanding urgent action.
“The rising number of diet-related diseases highlights the urgent need for effective nutritional labeling. Mandatory FOPWL can serve as a preventive measure by discouraging the consumption of unhealthy foods and promoting healthier alternatives,” the Executive Director of Non-Communicable Disease Alliance of Kenya (NCDAK) Dr Catherine Karekezi emphasised.
Through providing consumers with the knowledge, they need to make better choices, FOPWL can play a vital role in reducing the incidence of these diseases, which require life-long management and often burden the healthcare system and negatively impact the quality of life for many Kenyans.
Associate Research Scientist from the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) Dr Shukri Mohamed has stressed that Front-of-pack warning labels (FOPWL) have been shown to work well worldwide.
Mohamed said research from many countries shows that FOPWL helps reduce the consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat.
“This evidence supports introducing similar labels in Kenya to help address urgent public health issues. By learning from countries that have successfully used these labels, Kenya can take a similar approach to improve public health,” Mohamed said.
The experts have acknowledged that introducing mandatory FOPWL in Kenya is a big and important step towards better health across the country.
FOPWL helps people make informed choices, guides policy decisions, and addresses the growing problem of diet-related diseases.
By supporting healthier eating habits, FOPWL can play a key role in improving the health of Kenyans. With strong support from various groups, it is clear that FOPWL isn’t just beneficial but necessary for a healthier future in Kenya.
