Glovo Kenya Discloses Food Labelling Measures After Access To Information Review

Glovo Kenya has disclosed measures it has put in place to ensure food and beverage products listed on its digital platform meet mandatory consumer protection and food labelling requirements.

The disclosure followed intervention by Kenya's Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) after the company initially failed to respond to an information request from the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN).

KELIN had sought information on how Glovo ensures consumers receive essential details when purchasing food through its platform, including ingredients, nutritional information, allergen disclosures, warnings and manufacturer information.

The request was prompted by concerns over the absence of statutory product information on some food and beverage products listed on the platform.

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According to the CAJ, KELIN wrote to Glovo Kenya's Country Manager on April 7 requesting information about the measures the company had adopted to ensure vendors comply with Kenyan consumer protection and food labelling requirements.

KELIN Raises Consumer Protection Concerns

The information sought included details of ingredients and additives, nutritional composition, allergen disclosures, product warnings and declarations, as well as manufacturer information and other labelling requirements.

KELIN argued that the absence of such information could undermine informed consumer choice and expose members of the public, including children and people with allergies or diet-related health risks, to avoidable harm.

The organisation also sought copies of policies, guidelines or contractual requirements obliging vendors to provide mandatory food product information.

It requested details of technical or platform-based measures used to verify that vendors provide the required information before products are listed, as well as information on compliance monitoring and enforcement.

KELIN further sought details of any internal or external audits, assessments or reviews examining compliance with Kenyan consumer protection and food labelling laws.

It also requested a timeline and plan for achieving full compliance across food and beverage listings on the platform.

According to the CAJ, KELIN did not receive a response from Glovo Kenya within 21 days and subsequently applied to the Commission for a review under Article 35 of the Constitution of Kenya and the Access to Information Act.

Commission Orders Response From Glovo

The CAJ said KELIN had copied its original request to both the Commission and the Kenya Bureau of Standards.

The organisation argued that consumers buying food online should receive the same level of product information available in physical retail outlets, particularly where children and people with allergies or diet-related health risks are concerned.

Following the application, the Commission issued an Access to Information Notice to Glovo Kenya, requiring the company to respond within seven days.

“Following the notice, Glovo Kenya, through its legal representatives, provided the requested information for onward transmission to KELIN,” the CAJ said.

The Commission subsequently asked KELIN to submit a rejoinder within 14 days to assist it in determining the application.

The CAJ said the disclosure was made following its intervention under the Access to Information Act, with the information now transmitted to KELIN for review.

KELIN is currently considering Glovo Kenya's response.