The promotion of ultra-processed foods in modern retail food outlets in rural and urban areas in Kenya.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the availability and marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in modern retail food outlets (supermarkets and minimarts) in Kenya and associated factors.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kenya from August 2021 to October 2021. Variables included the geographic location and the socio-economic status (SES) levels, the food items displayed for sale and advertised in the stores, and locations in the stores such as the entrance.

SETTING

Three counties in Kenya (Nairobi - urban, Mombasa - coastal tourist and Baringo - rural). Each county was stratified into high and low SES using national poverty indices.

PARTICIPANTS

Food outlets that offered a self-service, had at least one checkout and had a minimum of two stocked aisles were assessed.

RESULTS

Of 115 outlets assessed, UPF occupied 33 % of the cumulative shelf space. UPF were the most advertised foods (60 %) and constituted 40 % of foods available for sale. The most commonly used promotional characters were cartoon characters (18 %). UPF were significantly more available for sale in Mombasa (urban) compared to Baringo (rural) (adjusted prevalence rate ratios (APRR): 1·13, 95 % CI 1·00, 1·26, = 0·005). UPF advertisements were significantly higher in Mombasa ((APRR): 2·18: 1·26, 3·79, = 0·005) compared to Baringo and Nairobi counties. There was a significantly higher rate of advertisement of UPF in larger outlets ((APRR): 1·68: 1·06, 2·67 = 0·001) compared to smaller outlets.

CONCLUSIONS

The high marketing and availability of UPF in modern retail outlets in Kenya calls for policies regulating unhealthy food advertisements in different settings in the country.