Labram Musah addressing the media
Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST) Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND) and SEND Ghana has urged the government to introduce a mandatory front-of-pack warning labels (FOPWL) on pre-packaged foods to help curb the rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.
Speaking at a media workshop on nutrient profile modelling, front of pack warning labelling and healthy food policy in Ghana, the Executive Director for VAST Ghana, Labram Musah, explained that the absence of a mandatory food warning labels is making it difficult for consumers to identify products containing excessive amounts of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.
He noted that although the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is making efforts to regulate food products, more preventive measures are needed to address unhealthy food consumption in the country.
Mr. Musah added that Ghana’s existing food labelling system is largely voluntary, which allows the manufacturers to determine the nutritional information they disclose on their products.
He highlighted that a mandatory front-of-pack warning label, supported by an evidence-based nutrient profiling system, would enable consumers to make informed decisions about the foods they purchase.
“When consumers go to the market and find a product high in sugar, they can decide whether to consume it or not,” he said.
Mr. Musah explained that excessive consumption of pre-packaged foods and sugar-sweetened beverages is a contributing factor to the growing cases of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
He further called for the implementation of complementary food policies, including taxes on unhealthy products, restrictions on advertisements targeting children, and healthier food procurement policies for schools, noting that government should prioritise nutritious meals when procuring food for schoolchildren, to protect them from unhealthy eating habits.
Also, the President of GAND, Rev. Prince Baidoo, raised concerns over the increasing number of children developing health conditions traditionally associated with adults such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, attributing the trend to the growing consumption of sugary drinks, processed meats, and pastries among other fatty foods.
He noted that parents consider pre-packaged snacks more convenient without paying attention to the nutritional value of the product, urging parents to make fruits and vegetables the preferred choice when providing snacks for children.
Mr. Baidoo also urged the general public to consume indigenous Ghanaian foods rather than processed and imported foods, to help reduce NCDs in the country.
A member of the Food Policy team from SEND Ghana, Baaba Sam, disclosed that even though the country has a regulation for food labelling, which is the nutritional content at the back of products, it is usually not compulsory, stressing that a mandatory front-of-pack warning label would make nutritional warnings more visible, readable and accessible through clear symbols and written information for consumers to make healthier choices.
FOPWL is the visual label placed on the front of packaged products which allows consumers to correctly, quickly, and easily identify when a product contains excessive amounts of critical nutrients.
Critical nutrients of public health concern include sugars, total fats, saturated fats, trans fats and sodium. These nutrients, when consumed in excess, are linked to obesity and NCDs, in particular high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar levels and overweight.
By Florence Adom Asamoah