By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
P.R.O. for Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Pearl Exornam Selormey, has advocated for the push for mandatory food warning labels on packaged foods in Ghana to protect consumers.
According to her, most non-communicable diseases like stroke, heart disease, and cancers are often linked to the lifestyle and dietary habits of the patients, so the labels on packaged foods should be bold and visible to guide consumers in making informed decisions about what they eat. ‘’It is important to have warning labels on our food, and they should be bold and visible for consumers to see,’’ she said.
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show, she emphasized the importance of knowing what goes into one’s body, drawing a parallel with the care people take when choosing engine oil for their vehicles. She stressed that just as individuals are particular about what they put in their cars to prevent damage, they should be equally cautious about what they consume.
The dietitian also highlighted Ghana’s struggles with the prevalence of malnutrition, undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies which she reiterated can also be linked to one’s diet.
The current food environment in Ghana, according to her, is “obesogenic,” with a high consumption of junk food instead of healthy meals, contributing to health issues such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
To address these challenges, the Academy is advocating for front-of-pack warning labels that are easy to understand and accessible to all consumers, regardless of language barriers. By providing clear information about the contents of packaged foods, the Academy believes consumers will be better equipped to make healthier choices.
This initiative aims to empower Ghanaians to take control of their health through informed dietary decisions, potentially reducing the burden of diet-related health issues in the country.
