Consumer rights advocates have called on the government to expedite the introduction of front-of-pack warning labels on processed food products, saying consumers need clear information to identify foods that contain excessive amounts of sugar, salt and fat.
Bernard Bwambale, Head of Programmes at CONSENT, the Global Consumer Center, welcomed the Ministry of Health’s adoption of the Nutrient Profile Model, describing it as an important step towards protecting Ugandans from diet-related non-communicable diseases.
Bwambale said the Nutrient Profile Model is a technical document that establishes thresholds for nutrients and ingredients considered to be of critical concern, particularly sugar, fat and salt.
“These nutrients are called nutrients of critical concern because they are associated with the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and some cancers,” Bwambale said.
Speaking during a media training in Kampala, he explained that the model provides clear thresholds for determining when a food product contains excessive levels of these nutrients.
However, Bwambale said setting the thresholds alone is not enough because ordinary consumers may not understand technical information presented in percentages or other scientific measurements.
He said this is where the proposed front-of-pack warning labelling regulation becomes important.
Under the proposed system, food products that exceed the prescribed thresholds would be required to carry prominent warnings on the front of the package, such as “High in Sugar,” “High in Fat” or “High in Salt.”
According to Bwambale, such warnings would enable consumers to immediately identify products that contain high levels of nutrients associated with non-communicable diseases and make informed purchasing decisions.
“The consumer doesn’t know these things. So the Nutrient Profile Model provides a ground for other regulations, and one of the critical regulations is what we call the front-of-pack warning labelling regulation,” he said.
He added that the system would not only benefit consumers but would also encourage food manufacturers to reformulate their products and reduce excessive levels of sugar, salt and fat.
“If you’re making a product and you don’t adhere to that, the consumer is already having knowledge, so they will be able to choose rightly,” Bwambale said.
He urged manufacturers to use the Nutrient Profile Model as an opportunity to develop healthier products rather than viewing the proposed warning labels as a restriction on business.
Bwambale said manufacturers could either reformulate existing products to bring them within the recommended thresholds or develop healthier alternatives to meet growing consumer demand for nutritious foods.
He stressed that the measures would not ban fast foods or prevent businesses from selling their products.
“The Nutrient Profile Model and the front-of-pack [labelling] are not stopping fast foods. But what we are saying is, if you’re producing your fast food and it is high in sugar, fat or salt, then the front-of-pack warning label will tell you to label it,” he said.
He added that restaurants and fast-food outlets could also provide information on menus to indicate when particular meals are high in sugar, fat or salt, enabling customers to make informed choices.
Bwambale said the overall objective is to help consumers understand the health implications of excessive consumption of foods high in sugar, salt and fat.
He warned that excessive consumption of such nutrients contributes to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and urged consumers to reduce their intake of unhealthy products.
He also called for stronger measures to protect children from unhealthy foods, particularly in schools.
Bwambale further called for restrictions on the marketing and sale of unhealthy food products within schools.
He said school canteens should stock products that meet healthy food requirements to help protect children from excessive consumption of foods high in sugar, salt and fat.
He noted that the technical nature of the Nutrient Profile Model could make it difficult for ordinary consumers to use.
For example, the model may define thresholds in percentages of energy derived from free sugars, information that may be difficult for a consumer to interpret while standing in a shop deciding what to buy.
Bwambale therefore argued that front-of-pack warnings would translate the technical information in the Nutrient Profile Model into simple messages that consumers can easily understand.
He said the labels would ultimately empower consumers to make informed choices while creating an incentive for manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of their products.
Bwambale urged government to move forward with the front-of-pack warning labelling regulation, saying clear and visible warnings would help bridge the gap between technical nutrition standards and the everyday decisions made by consumers.
