Stakeholders in food business learn more about responsible imports and marketing practices |07 April 2015

Importers and businesses involved in food marketing, agencies which protect the rights of consumers to healthy and safe foods as well as the Ministry of Health which promotes healthy eating practices recently came together during a forum to discuss various issues related to food.

As part of activities to mark Consumer Rights Day on March 15 last month, the Food Control Unit of the Public Health Authority, the Nutrition Unit of the Health Care Agency of the Ministry of Health partnered with the Fair Trading Commission to organise the forum and information session at the end of last month at the Sheikh Khalifa conference room.

The aim was to promote responsible imports, and marketing of food in the country.
During the session those present learned more on regulations in the Consumer Protection Act, and the Food Act pertaining to deception and misleading information that is disseminated through food marketing.

They also learned about nutrition, healthy as well as unhealthy foods and the impact of food marketing on children and adults food choices.

Launching the discussions, public health commissioner Dr Jude Gedeon noted that the Ministry of Health is working with different partners such as the National Consumers Forum (Natcof), The FairTrading Commission (FTC), the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) among others to promote healthy eating habits.

“Adults and children have more access to unhealthy food that is being sold on the market and Seychelles our small island is now listed as an overweight population, more than 60% are obese or overweight,” said Dr Gedeon, noting that this has to be reversed.

John Simmons from the National Consumer Tribunal in South Africa made a presentation on food labelling and advertising.

“When you advertise, you cannot mislead the consumer, you cannot exaggerate on your products that you are selling. Do not take advertising for granted, if you have doubt, do some research, find out more on the product that you want consumers to buy,” Mr Simmons told those present.

Celia Ponzo, health promotion officer at the Seychelles Hospital, talked about the effects of marketing.

“98% of food advertised is high in fat, sugar and salt. Young children are vulnerable and are not able to make good decisions about a healthy diet,” she pointed out.

FTC talked about how to market product so customers are better informed on what they are going to buy.
It is a known fact that Seychelles has the highest proportion of overweight and obese men and women in sub-Saharan Africa. Our country has been battling with the obesity problem in the last few decades, extensive programmes were put in place to tackle the population’s unhealthy eating habits. One of the ways to reduce weight problems is through a proper diet with a reduced overall calorie intake and reduced food proportions.
 
The tsunami of obesity in our societies will inevitably be accompanied by a tsunami of diabetic patients and other diseases related to obesity, which will in turn result in enormous costs to society (health, economic, social). Let’s all work together and promote healthy eating among children and adults.