The Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND) is marking Nutrition Month this July, focusing on the importance of food label literacy to empower consumers to make healthier choices.
Under the theme “Behind Every Food Label Lies a Story — Make Yours a Healthy One,” the initiative aims to raise awareness about how food labels influence dietary decisions and overall well-being.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency noted that excessive consumption of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats—often hidden in pre-packaged foods—continued to drive hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases.
To address this, GAND has outlined a series of activities, including webinars, street quizzes, daily educational flyers, radio, TV, and social media campaigns.
There will also be community-based education by registered nutritionists and dietitians nationwide.
GAND cited a 2022 Global Health Action study, which revealed that over 70 per cent of pre-packaged foods in Ghana contained high levels of salt, sugar, or saturated fats, often veiled in complex labeling.
“A 2023 University of Ghana survey revealed that only 22 per cent of consumers regularly check food labels before purchasing, while less than 15 per cent fully understand the implications of sodium, sugar, and saturated fat content on products.”
GAND also referenced WHO Africa data showing that front-of-pack labeling policies have led to a 15–20 per cent drop in unhealthy food purchases in countries where they are implemented.
“This demonstrates the power of label literacy in driving healthier choices,” the statement said.
The Academy urged stakeholders across sectors to support its campaign to promote informed and health-conscious dietary habits.
GAND represents the professional, educational, public, and workplace interests of licensed and registered dietitians and nutritionists in Ghana, as well as associate members with qualifications in nutrition, dietetics, or food science.
Its mission is to advance nutritional knowledge and improve the nutritional well-being of communities nationwide.
By Ernest Nutsugah