By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Dietician at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), Evame Julius Agbagba, has issued a warning about the dangers of ultra-processed foods, citing their link to chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancers.
According to him, the increasing reliance on fast foods and ultra-processed foods is a major contributor to these health issues. He also noted that many people opt for ultra-processed foods because they are convenient, but they are often high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
“We are taking in a lot of ultra-processed foods. We often opt for fast foods because we want it easy,” he said.
In commemoration of World Food Day 2025, Mr. Agbagba, speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on Thursday, October 16, 2025, advocated for clearer labeling on food packaging to help consumers make informed choices. Specifically, he wants food manufacturers to indicate “high in salt” instead of “high in sodium” on the front of packs to make it easier for people to understand the nutritional content.
Also speaking on front-of-pack labeling on the Breakfast Show, Project Lead for the Advocacy for Mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Food Labels, Levlyn Konadu Asiedu, emphasized the importance of clear labeling. She explained that front-of-pack labels can help identify nutrients of concern and provide warnings if the levels are excessive.
“The front-of-pack labels will basically give you a warning if the nutrients in the processed food are in the right proportion,” she added.
Madam Asiedu called on the government to expedite action on implementing mandatory front-of-pack labeling, which would provide consumers with essential information about the foods they eat.
She went on to give reasons for the advocacy for mandatory front-of-pack food labels, citing language barriers as one.
According to her, some content on the back of processed foods does not come in the English language, hence creating a barrier for people who cannot read other languages.
She also mentioned that the content at the back of processed foods often comes in very small print, making it difficult to read, hence the need for the content to be placed boldly on the front of the package.
