Two non-governmental organisations have called on the government to urgently introduce and enforce a front-of-pack food labelling policy to help curb the country’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
They explained that front-of-pack food labelling provides consumers with clear and visible information that helps them make quick and informed choices.
SEND Ghana and the Ghana Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), who made the call, said such a policy was crucial to protect public health and enable consumers to make informed dietary decisions.
Evidence from other countries, they said, showed that such labelling reduced the purchase of unhealthy products and encouraged food manufacturers to reformulate their products to meet healthier standards.
In a statement signed by the Country Director of SEND Ghana, Harriet Agyemang, the organisations said unhealthy diets high in sugar, salt, and fats continued to contribute to the country’s growing incidence of lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and heart attacks.
They noted that many food products on the Ghanaian market were sold without clear nutritional information, leaving consumers unaware of the potential health risks.
They argued that introducing front-of-pack labelling would not only empower consumers but also strengthen national efforts to prevent diet-related diseases and reduce the long-term economic cost of NCDs.
They therefore called on the government to take decisive steps toward developing a national policy on front-of-pack labelling, guided by international best practices and supported by strong regulatory enforcement to ensure compliance across the food industry.
This year’s World Food Day was marked under the theme, “Hand in Hand for a Better World.”
It calls for unity and cooperation in addressing the global challenges of hunger, conflict, and climate change—working together to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
According to the statement, the theme reinforces the need for collective action to build a fair, healthy, and sustainable food system.
It said introducing front-of-pack warning labels aligns perfectly with this goal, as it would empower every Ghanaian to make informed dietary choices and reduce preventable deaths linked to unhealthy diets.
The organisations further appealed to the public, civil society organisations, health professionals, and the media to support the campaign for front-of-pack warning labels to help create a healthier food environment for all.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
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