The Professor of Public Health and Nutrition from the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dr. Paul Amuna, has voiced his concerns about inadequate labeling on many food products available for purchase. He emphasized that this issue represents a significant risk to public health within the nation.
Consequently, he has advocated for stricter regulations and policies regarding enhanced food labeling to safeguard public health throughout the nation.
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He pointed out that labeling wasn’t just an aesthetic addition; it played a vital role in educating consumers and enabling them to make well-informed choices. However, most products on the market, particularly local items, lacked proper labeling altogether, and even when they did have some form of label, the information provided was often insufficient or missing entirely.
Furthermore, he pointed out that some of the imports were labeled in non-English languages, which made it challenging for individuals to comprehend the information provided on them.
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Speaking to
The Ghanaian Times
In an interview last Tuesday, Professor Amuna stated, “It’s essential to have a policy… along with regulations and mechanisms for enforcing them, so that all foods entering the marketplace come with proper labeling. This way, consumers can make informed decisions based on the warning labels displayed on these products.”
He mentioned this was now essential due to the prevailing tendencies and increasing impact of non-communicable illnesses in lower and middle-income nations such as Ghana.
He mentioned that despite having current guidelines from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for labeling products on the back of packaging to maintain global standards, these rules were not consistently enforced across the board.
“While it is required to emphasize specific components in the product, numerous food items in the nation notably lacked transparent and precise nutritional labeling on the front of packages, underscoring the necessity for stronger regulatory oversight,” he stated.
He added, “Currently in Ghana, there isn’t an implemented policy specifically addressing front-of-pack labeling for food products, particularly warning labels.”
Professor Amuna emphasized the importance of establishing a policy for front-of-pack labeling. This system would offer straightforward alerts regarding unhealthy components or what are known as nutrients of concern.
He stated that implementing such a policy would not only empower consumers to make educated choices regarding their nutrition and well-being but also potentially decrease the prevalence of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and specific types of cancer.
Implementing such a policy compulsorily would similarly benefit the food industry, as producers would be motivated to alter their product formulations to enhance nutritional value.
He revealed that, in recent years, the Ministry of Health has collaborated closely with the Food and Drugs Authority, along with a group of technical specialists headed by Professor Amos Laar from the University of Ghana’s School of Public Health. Together, they have been diligently crafting this policy aimed at tackling non-communicable diseases within the nation.
Consequently, he urged the government and all pertinent parties to take up the mantle in transforming this initiative into a policy. This move aims at enhancing the quality of goods entering the marketplace, which aligns with our shared objective of tackling non-communicable diseases.
Through collaboration, he stated that the nation could create an efficient food labeling policy with rules aimed at enhancing public health and fostering a healthier dietary landscape. This approach could set a standard for nearby nations within the Western African region.
He additionally cautioned customers to carefully examine the expiration dates of items by reviewing the labels and confirming that they were purchasing goods that had not passed their due date.
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