9th Africa nutrition conference underway in Cape Coast
Panelists on food labelling at the Ninth Africa Nutrition Conference in Cape Coast have advocated accurate nutrient profiling to inform consumers and ensure public safety.
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They also called for the effective implementation of regulatory frameworks on clearer and informative food labelling for consumers.
The conference is on the theme: "The road to ensuring a healthy food environment: Advocating for mandatory front-of package warning food labeling (FOPWFL).”
It is being attended by nutritionists, health practitioners and academicians from across Africa.
The conference was organised by African Nutrition Society, SEND Ghana, a CSO; the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and other collaborators.
Participants include nutritionists, health practitioners and academicians from across Africa.
Among topics being discussed are global issues that affect food and nutrition security, as well as the integrity of the food supply chain.
The programme also aligns with current global dialogues and national commitments aimed at transforming food systems for a better future.
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The President of the Ghana Association of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), Professor Kingsley Pereko, said consumers must be clearly informed on the contents of packaged food through front-of package warning labelling to enable them to make healthier and informed choices.
She said although industry push was anticipated, it was important for the sector to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure consumers know exactly what they were buying, since the health of consumers must override profit considerations.
A Senior Regulatory Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Desmond Hackman, also said that the authority would roll out a mandatory front-of package warning food labelling to provide consumers with a simple-at-a-glance practical labelling warning to help them choose right.
He noted that although many packaged food had labels, some lacked clarity or were not written in a language that could be understood by consumers.
Mr Hackman said the FDA was currently working in collaboration with the National Development Planning Commission, the Ministry of Health, academia and other stakeholders to ensure labels developed and accepted under the implementation of the mandatory FOPWFL were country specific, preferred and appropriate.
Framework
A Clinical and Public Health Officer of the Ghana Health Service, Pearl Selormey, also said that the health of some consumers was being affected due to poor labelling.
The Executive Director of the International Institute for Legislative of Kenya, Celine Awuor, who joined the discussion virtually, called for a framework and monitoring structures for the effective implementation of FOPWFL.
Earlier in his presentation, the Executive Director of Programmes, Vision for Alternative Development,a CSO, Labram Musah Massawudu, said many packaged foods were high in energy, sugar and fats, but low in fibre-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
He said the current food labelling did not also provide enough information about food content and a lack of a country specific nutrient profile for products to regulate the consumption and formulation of food.
Mr Massawudu added that consumer knowledge on labelling was also limited.
For his part, the Director at the Directorate of Research Innovation and Consultancy of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. David Teye-Doku, who chaired the function, said labelling was critical in safeguarding patrons’ health and well-being.
The participants also called for examination of contents to ensure they were verified.
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