Nutritionists Sound Alarm Over Increased Junk Food Consumption

Nutritionists in Kenya are raising serious concerns about the rapidly increasing consumption of junk food and ultra-processed products, warning that the trend is contributing to a growing public health crisis. They point to a shift in dietary habits, especially among children and adolescents, toward energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods—driven in part by aggressive marketing and the easy availability of cheap packaged snacks. According to the 2025 Kenya Market Assessment Report, more than 90% of packaged foods in the country exceed safe thresholds for sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats.
Experts say this shift is fueling the triple burden of malnutrition in Kenya: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, and a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. Nutritionists argue that ultra-processed foods are displacing traditional, more nutritious diets, and this change is already putting more Kenyans at risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Public health advocate Ruth Okowa from GAIN Kenya emphasized the need for stronger policy interventions, including enforcing food labelling, limiting unhealthy marketing, and providing healthier food options in communities.
In response to the concerns, the government has launched regulatory measures. The Ministry of Health is developing a new Nutrient Profile Model to set limits on sugar, salt, and saturated fat in packaged foods. There are also proposals to restrict junk food advertisements targeting children, enforce clearer front-of-package nutrition labeling, and restrict the sale of unhealthy products in schools. Nutritionists are hopeful that, if implemented effectively, these measures will help curb the rising tide of poor diets and improve long-term health outcomes, especially among Kenya’s youth.