Zimbabwe's new laws to curb junk food consumption on the cards

GOVERNMENT is set to clamp down on the marketing and sale of unhealthy and ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt and fat as part of a comprehensive five-year plan to curb diet-related diseases and improve national health outcomes.

The measures, outlined under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), will involve reviewing key food-related legislation to restrict the promotion and availability of products linked to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

According to the NDS2, authorities will strengthen controls on advertising, labelling and distribution of unhealthy foods, while boosting public awareness on healthier dietary choices. Amendments to laws such as the Public Health Act, Food and Food Standards Act, Animal Health Act, Dairy Act and National Biotechnology Act will ensure regulations promote safe and nutritious consumption.

"The Social Behaviour Change and Communication Strategy will draw on global best practices, incorporating behaviour diagnosis, context-specific messaging and the use of multiple communication channels ranging from mass media to interpersonal networks, in order to effectively influence dietary practices," the strategy reads.

Community-based approaches, including Positive Deviance, Nutrition Impact and Positive Practice and Caregiver models, will also form part of the nutrition campaign, alongside a review of legislation to restrict the marketing of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt and fat.

Health authorities note that Zimbabwe, like many countries, is experiencing a rapid shift towards processed foods such as sugary drinks, flavoured juices, energy drinks, sweetened yoghurts, crisps, instant noodles, processed meats and fast foods — especially among children and youth. These products offer little nutritional value but increase the risk of non-communicable diseases.

As part of the reforms, mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling will require manufacturers to display clear, standardised information on sugar, salt, total fat, saturated fat and calorie content, allowing consumers to quickly assess a product's health implications.

"Mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling will be introduced and enforced under the review of the legislation to empower consumers to make informed choices over healthier foods," the NDS2 states.

Experts say this labelling will improve nutrition literacy, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where processed food consumption is rising. Colour-coded indicators or warning symbols may also flag products exceeding recommended thresholds, while encouraging manufacturers to reformulate foods to reduce sugar, salt and fat levels.

Government will also promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture to enhance food and nutrition security. This includes encouraging the production and consumption of bio-fortified crops such as vitamin A-enriched maize, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and iron-rich beans.

"The promotion will be done through national programmes like Pfumvudza/Intwasa and school feeding initiatives," the strategy reads.

Farmers will be encouraged to diversify production, incorporating aquaculture, beekeeping and small livestock rearing to reduce overreliance on staples and improve household nutrition outcomes.

These reforms aim to create a healthier food environment, improve dietary practices, and reduce the burden of diet-related diseases across the country.