International Women’s Day may have passed, but the conversations it sparked must continue. As we celebrate the achievements and resilience of women across Kenya and the world, it is also an opportunity to spotlight a critical issue: diet-related health risks, particularly the impact of industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs), and the urgent need to strengthen regulations to protect women’s health.

Understanding Trans Fats

Trans fats, or trans-fatty acids (TFAs), are unsaturated fatty acids that come from both industrial and natural sources. Industrially produced trans fats are primarily formed during the partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fats and oils. Smaller amounts may also be created during processes such as oil refining and deodorization.

iTFAs are commonly found in margarine, vegetable shortening, Vanaspati ghee, fried foods, and baked goods such as crackers, biscuits, and pies. Street and restaurant foods that are fried or baked often contain high levels of iTFAs. Trans fats also occur naturally in meat and dairy from ruminant animals like cows, sheep, and goats. Both industrially produced and naturally occurring trans fats are harmful to health.

Diets high in trans fats contribute to raised “bad” cholesterol (LDL), lowered “good” cholesterol (HDL), and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)—conditions that affect both men and women but have profound long-term implications for women, their families, and communities.

NCDs, Trans Fats, and Women’s Health

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing public health concern in Kenya, accounting for 50% of hospital admissions and 39% of all deaths. Cardiovascular diseases alone contribute to roughly 13% of deaths and up to 25% of hospital admissions. Yet these statistics only tell part of the story. For women, the burden of NCDs is compounded by biological factors and entrenched gender inequalities.

Women experience unique risk factors that influence the development of cardiovascular diseases. Life stages such as pregnancy, menopause, and hormonal changes can increase susceptibility to hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Symptoms of heart disease in women may also differ from men, often leading to delayed diagnosis or under-treatment. Evidence further links higher intake of trans fats to an increased risk of coronary heart disease in women, highlighting the urgent need to reduce exposure to iTFAs.

In many Kenyan households, women are the primary decision-makers regarding food purchases and preparation, shaping household dietary patterns. Yet, when commonly consumed foods—like margarine, baked goods, fried street foods, and Vanaspati ghee—contain iTFAs, women may unknowingly expose themselves and their families to serious health risks.

Strengthening national policies to limit or eliminate iTFAs can support women in maintaining healthier diets for their households. Ensuring that foods in markets, shops, and restaurants meet safer nutritional standards reduces the hidden burden placed on individuals to manage dietary risks.

Kenya’s Regulatory Gap

Kenya has recognized the threat posed by iTFAs. In 2015, the Ministry of Health passed regulations on TFAs through Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015. However, the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances (Food Labelling, Additives and Standards) (Amendment) Regulations of 2015 lacked clear, enforceable limits on industrially produced trans fats, making effective implementation difficult.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends best-practice policies including:

• A mandatory national limit of no more than 2 grams of iTFAs per 100 grams of total fat in all foods.
• A ban on the production or use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the main source of harmful trans fats.

Despite these recommendations, Kenya has yet to fully adopt and enforce such standards.

Health and Economic Benefits of Stronger Limits

Scientific studies show that enforcing WHO-aligned regulations on trans fats could lead to substantial public health and economic gains in Kenya. Research by The George Institute for Global Health estimates:

• Over a population’s lifetime, strict iTFA limits could prevent more than 100,000 new cases of heart disease and save around 50,000 lives.
• Benefits would extend equally to men and women, with reductions in heart disease deaths nearly evenly split across sexes.
• Implementation costs would be far outweighed by healthcare savings, with every dollar invested returning significant economic and social benefits.

These findings reinforce that reducing trans fats is not just a policy issue—it is a public health investment that benefits families, communities, and women, who are often the primary managers of household nutrition.

A Call to Action

This International Women’s Day, we must remember that women’s health is shaped not only by individual choices but also by the environment in which they live, work, and raise families. Stronger regulations on trans fats protect everyone, but they especially safeguard women, who make dietary decisions for households and bear a disproportionate burden of diet-related diseases.

By adopting and enforcing robust limits on iTFAs, policymakers can dramatically reduce cardiovascular disease risk, support healthier generations of women, and make preventive health a shared priority. The science is clear: eliminating harmful trans fats can save lives and promote healthier futures for women and all Kenyans.

By Kelvin Mithamo,
Assistant Programme Officer, Health Governance –
International Institute for Legislative Affairs