KENYA – The Ministry of Health in Kenya has released the Kenya Nutrient Profile Model (KNPM) as a public tool to support efforts in addressing the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Developed in collaboration with Nutrition International, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), SUN Civil Society Alliance, and other partners, the KNPM is intended to guide policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders in classifying foods and beverages based on their nutritional quality.
Tool to guide policies on food labeling, marketing, and school meals
The tool sets maximum thresholds for critical nutrients, including sugar, saturated fat, salt, and energy across various food categories.
Foods and beverages that exceed these thresholds are classified as unhealthy.
It is structured to inform several public health interventions such as restricting marketing of unhealthy products, especially to children, implementing front-of-pack nutrition labeling, setting standards for public procurement such as school meals, and supporting consumer nutrition education.
According to the Kenya STEPwise survey on NCD risk factors conducted in 2015, 94% of the Kenyan population does not meet recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake.
The survey further found that nearly a quarter of the population consistently adds salt to meals, while 84% regularly add sugar to beverages at home.
Recent data from the Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022 shows overweight and obesity trends continue to rise, with 45% of women and 19% of men affected.
Among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years, overweight and obesity prevalence rose from 9.8% in 2000 to 25.9% in 2019, with girls more affected.
Framework for multisectoral public health interventions
The Kenya Nutrition Action Plan 2023-2027 has prioritised promotion of healthy diets under its second key result area, which outlines both policy and community-based interventions to reduce diet-related NCDs.
The KNPM aligns with this plan by offering nutrient thresholds to guide front-of-pack labeling policies, regulate marketing to children, and improve institutional food procurement standards.
How the nutrient thresholds were calculated
The nutrient thresholds in the KNPM were calculated based on an average daily energy requirement of 2,100 kilocalories per person. This daily energy intake was divided into three main meals, each accounting for 30% of the daily requirement, and two snacks, each providing 5%.
For sugar, the threshold was calculated as 10% of the product’s total energy, then converted into grams using a factor of 4 kcal per gram. For fat, the threshold was set at 30% of the product’s total energy, divided by 9 kcal per gram.
The saturated fat threshold was calculated as 10% of total energy, also divided by 9 kcal per gram. Sodium thresholds were set using a ratio of 1 milligram of sodium per kilocalorie of energy, then converted into grams. These thresholds are calculated per 100 grams or 100 milliliters of the product.
Model design and underlying principles
The KNPM is built on eight core considerations. It focuses on nutrients of concern that increase the risk of diet-related diseases: sugar, sodium, total fat, and saturated fat. Foods are grouped into categories based on their nutrient content, ingredients, and intended use.
For foods naturally high in a specific nutrient, such as oils with saturated fat, only that nutrient has a threshold set.
The model applies to pre-packaged foods, including processed and ultra-processed products, and calculates thresholds per 100 grams or 100 milliliters, regardless of serving size. An exception is made for sauces, dips, and dressings, where portion sizes are considered due to their smaller serving quantities.
When presenting thresholds, fats and sugars are rounded to one decimal point, while sodium values are rounded to two.
The model targets the general population, excluding children under 36 months, and uses WHO recommended population dietary intake goals from the WHO Africa Region Nutrient Profile Model as its basis.
Dr. Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Health, noted that the model would provide a framework for multisectoral interventions targeting NCD reduction.
Mary Muthoni Muriuki, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, emphasized its role in shaping policies to improve the national food environment and public health outcomes.
The tool has been uploaded to the Ministry of Health’s website, making it accessible to government institutions, enforcement bodies, and the public.
It is expected to guide policy development across multiple ministries, including Health, Information and Communication, Investments and Trade, Education, Agriculture and Livestock Development, Labor and Social Protection, and The National Treasury.
Kenya’s KNPM was adapted from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Codex Alimentarius Commission food categorization system.
Its launch comes at a time when Kenya, like many countries, is experiencing rapid dietary shifts and lifestyle changes leading to increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers.