As the world marked World Heart Day on September 29, we are reminded of a silent, deadly threat to heart health: industrially produced trans fats (iTFAs).

These harmful fats, found in many processed foods like margarine, fried snacks, and baked goods, are fueling an alarming rise in preventable heart disease across Kenya and the broader East African Community (EAC). 

Despite the well-known dangers of iTFAs, they remain common in low- and middle-income countries, Kenya included.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has long emphasized that iTFAs contribute significantly to heart disease, yet our region lags in implementing the stringent regulations needed to eliminate them. We cannot afford to let this threat persist unchecked.

In Kenya, efforts by organizations like the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) have been critical in raising awareness of the need to remove trans fats from our food supply.

However, advocacy alone will not protect the public. What we need is comprehensive legislation, enforced without compromise.

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The WHO recommends two key policy actions that have proven effective: capping industrial trans fats at 2 grams per 100 grams of total fat in food, and banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the main source of iTFAs, entirely.

These measures are not theoretical—countries that have adopted such policies have seen significant reductions in heart disease rates. South Africa and Nigeria are notable examples in Africa, where regulation has nearly eliminated iTFAs from the food supply.

Kenya and the EAC must follow suit if we are serious about safeguarding public health.

It’s clear that voluntary measures are insufficient. As long as manufacturers can include trans fats in their products, they will.

We’ve seen this globally: the countries that rely on voluntary guidelines experience far less progress in reducing iTFAs than those with enforceable laws. The evidence shows that without strict regulation, public health initiatives lose their impact.

This is not just a health issue but also an economic one.

A study by The George Institute for Global Health modeled the impact of trans fat regulation in Kenya. It found that the country could save 2,000 lives and prevent 17,000 cases of heart disease in the first decade alone, reducing healthcare costs by approximately 40 million USD (4.1 billion KES).

The cost of implementation, roughly 9 million USD, is a fraction of what we stand to gain in both lives saved and reduced healthcare spending.

The status quo, however, will only worsen the strain on our healthcare system, which is already struggling to manage a rising burden of cardiovascular diseases.

Heart disease is not just a personal tragedy for affected families but a public health emergency that threatens to overwhelm Kenya’s medical infrastructure.

The time to act is now. Kenya and the EAC have a unique chance to lead in public health by adopting and enforcing robust trans fat regulations.

This is not only about aligning ourselves with global best practices but about protecting our citizens from preventable suffering. Let’s not wait for the crisis to deepen. The case for regulation is clear—and so is the cost of inaction.