Ignoring food labels might be ruining your health

Guardian Nigeria

Are you truly aware of what's in your food? Many of us are drawn to appealing claims on the front of packaged goods, like "healthy" or "zero sugar," without a second thought. However, a quick flip to the back can reveal a surprising amount of hidden sugars like syrup, maltose, and sucrose.   Food label literacy is a critical skill many consumers lack. In Lagos, a study found that only a small percentage of adults understand nutritional food labels, and even fewer use them to guide their purchasing decisions. This oversight can have serious consequences for our health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases.   Recognizing this public health challenge, NAFDAC has launched the "Read the Food Label" campaign. They emphasize that these labels are more than just regulations; they are vital tools providing information on ingredients, allergens, and nutritional facts.   The World Health Organization also advocates for effective nutrition labeling as a strategy to combat unhealthy diets globally. Taking just a few extra seconds to examine product details can empower you to make healthier choices, compare options, and avoid potential allergens.   Next time you shop, go beyond the front of the package. Flip it over and make an informed decision. Your family's health could depend on it.   #FoodLabelAwareness #NutritionFacts #HealthyEating #ReadTheLabel

Transcript

00:00So you walked into a supermarket, a product caught your attention, written, healthy, zero sugar.

00:08And that was all it took to convince you that this product is good for you.

00:12But if you've taken less than a minute to flip the back of this product,

00:16you would have seen that it contained syrup, maltose, sucrose, or any other type of sugar.

00:22So what do you know about food label literacy?

00:25A lot of us rarely read the labels on our packaged food before putting it on our shopping carts.

00:31We mostly focus on the prices, which I understand, and sometimes the expiration date and NAFDAC number.

00:39Majority of us do not bother to check the nutritional panel of the products that we buy every day.

00:45But this small label could actually go a long way to inform your unhealthy choices

00:51and help you reduce the risk of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and heart-related diseases.

00:59A Lagos study by a team of researchers at the University of Lagos

01:04found that only 5% of adult consumers in this state have a good knowledge of nutritional food labeling.

01:11The same study also found that only 29% of consumers make use of this labeling as a guide for

01:20their dietary choices.

01:21Concerned by the growing burden of diet-related diseases in the country,

01:27the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC,

01:31recently launched the Read the Food Label campaign,

01:34urging Nigerians to make reading food labels a daily habit whenever they are purchasing their packaged products.

01:42According to the agency, food labels are not just regulatory requirements.

01:48They are important public health tools that provide information on ingredients,

01:54allergens, nutritional facts that can guide a consumer for healthy dietary choices.

02:00The World Health Organization has also identified effective nutrition labeling as one of the strategies

02:07that countries can adopt to address the increasing burden of unhealthy diets.

02:13So beyond looking at prices,

02:15taking just a few seconds to check the details of the products you are about to buy

02:20can help you compare products, avoid harmful ingredients,

02:25protect you from allergies,

02:26and help you make healthy choices for you and for your families.

02:31So the next time you are out there shopping,

02:33don't just look at the front of the package you are about to buy.

02:37Turn it over and make an informed choice because your health might depend on it.

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