An awareness campaign about the draft regulations on food labelling and marketing –released by the national Health Department in April – has been launched by the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) and Treatment Action Campaign, in efforts to educate communities on what they are buying and eating.
The Health Department wants mandatory front-of-package warning labels for all unhealthy products and new marketing restrictions for food carrying these labels, reports News24.
These are aligned with WHO recommendations for a healthy diet, which included limiting saturated fat consumption and daily salt and free or added sugar intake, linked to obesity, as well as non-communicable problems like stroke, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
HEALA's spokesperson Zukiswa Zimela said they were trying to get the public to support the regulation, adding South Africans have no idea what is in the food they consume.
“They are calling for easy-to-understand warning labels on their food. Many don’t realise that some products we buy threaten our health. We see more and more people in our communities suffering from diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure that can lead to stroke or heart disease.”
She said front-of-package warning labels would help consumers make better choices and live healthier lives.
“Understanding what is in the food we eat can be challenging. The nutrition labels on the back of food are confusing and difficult to understand.
“We have until 21 July to comment to the food control director. It is time for people to make their voices heard.”
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