Assessment of the legislative safeguards present in Kenya with regards to unhealthy foods in light of them being identified as a contributing factor to non-communicable diseases

Abstract

Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) pose a significant threat to economic production and growth. One of the risk factors that can be attributed to the rise of NCDs is an unhealthy lifestyle which consists of consumption of unhealthy food, tobacco use, lack of physical activity etc. This paper focuses on the risk factor that is unhealthy foods to examine if there are sufficient legislative measures protecting consumers. The important of food should not be taken lightly the fact of the matter is as much as it's a commodity in the market it is intrinsic to our human survival. Looking at the legislative measures in protecting consumers was an examination on the information and safeguards available to consumers when faced with unhealthy food options i.e. did they have necessary information on food and nutrition to make an informed purchases, are there alternative options to purchase, and what current codes and standards were in place with regards to food? The fact of the matter is consumers require better legislative safeguards when it comes to unhealthy foods. The main way tackle this is providing better consumer education whether in the form of risk communication, labeling or nutrition.