The Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND) is marking this year’s Nutrition Month with the launch of a nationwide Nutrition Month campaign set to run throughout July under the theme, “Behind Every Food Label Lies a Story — Make Yours a Healthy One.”
According to a press release issued by the Public Relations Officer of GAND, Mrs. Pearl Exornam Selormey, noted that the initiative forms part of their extensive efforts in raising awareness and educating individuals to understand better food labels, a crucial step in promoting healthier food choices and safeguarding their wellbeing.
“In today’s complex food environment, many individuals may inadvertently consume high levels of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, increasing the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases.
Understanding food labels is crucial to making healthier choices and safeguarding well-being,” the statement said.
In an era where pre-packaged foods dominate the market, GAND is sounding the alarm on hidden health risks associated with excessive consumption of salt, sugar and unhealthy fats — ingredients often masked behind technical label terminology.
The academy cited research-backed concerns over poor dietary habits driven by ignorance of food content.
According to GAND, evidence from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa indicated that countries implementing front-of-pack labelling policies had recorded a 15–20% drop in the purchase of unhealthy foods, proving that greater food label literacy can drive better dietary choices.
Various research findings underscore the need for the issue to be treated as urgent, including a 2022 study published in Global Health Action, which revealed that over 70% of pre-packaged foods in Ghana contained high levels of sodium, sugar, or saturated fats.
Yet, a 2023 survey by the University of Ghana found that only 22% of consumers regularly check food labels, and less than 15% fully understand the implications of what the label contents mean for their health.
As part of efforts to raise awareness on food label literacy and its impact on health, GAND has highlighted a series of activities to be organised throughout the month, including:
- Daily flyers with insights on food labels and healthier options.
- Informative TV and radio discussions to enhance public understanding.
- Webinars with practical guidance on using food labels in daily life.
- Educational videos and catchy jingles for social media and radio.
- Conduct direct community education by nutritionists and dietitians in facilities nationwide, where they will provide the public with education on reading food labels.
- Food label stands on campuses to interact directly with students, featuring instructions on how to read food labels.
- Interactive Street quizzes by nutrition students to boost awareness.
GAND has called on the public, health professionals, academic institutions, and media outlets to join hands in promoting the campaign throughout July.
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