Theme: Behind Every Food Label Lies a Story — Make Yours a Healthy One
In today’s landscape of increasingly varied and processed food products, selecting appropriate dietary options has become a complex endeavour. Food labels have traditionally served as important sources of information; however, their utility in empowering consumers to make healthy choices is often constrained by complex nutritional tables, small print, and technical terminology. This issue is particularly significant in Ghana, where the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease is closely correlated with dietary patterns marked by high intake of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
Presently, many consumers in Ghana face challenges when navigating retail environments, as critical information regarding the nutritional quality of packaged foods is not always readily perceivable. Although the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) mandates certain back-of-pack disclosures, accessing and understanding this information can be time-consuming and demands a level of nutritional literacy not universally held across the population. Consequently, inadvertent unhealthy purchasing decisions are common, exacerbating the nation’s public health concerns. Furthermore, recent reports estimate that a considerable proportion of Ghanaians experience foodborne illnesses annually, underscoring ongoing issues related to food safety and consumer awareness.
In response, there is growing momentum behind a significant public health initiative in Ghana: the advocacy for mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL). Organisations including SEND-Ghana, the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), and the Janok Foundation—working alongside the Ministry of Health—are advocating for the adoption of clear and easily interpretable warning labels on the front of food packaging. These labels would promptly flag products containing elevated levels of “nutrients of concern”—notably sugar, sodium, and saturated fats—thus enabling consumers to make swift, informed choices without reliance on intricate nutritional panels.
Such advocacy recognises that empowering consumers is essential for influencing dietary habits and curbing the rise of NCDs. Prominent visual warnings convert otherwise obscure ingredient profiles into direct, actionable information, aiming to close the gap between data provision and true consumer comprehension, especially among those with limited literacy.
The campaign theme, “Behind Every Food Label Lies a Story — Make Yours a Healthy One,” effectively encapsulates these efforts. It emphasises that every processed food product communicates its own nutritional narrative and that, equipped with accurate and accessible information, consumers are better positioned to select choices that enhance their long-term well-being. This movement calls for greater transparency and encourages Ghanaians to take an active role in shaping healthier futures, supported by unambiguous front-of-pack warnings.
Activities:
NNM2025 is marked by sharing daily tips on food label literacy on social media, going to the TV stations to educate the public on different aspects of the food labels (what to know and how to read the labels). Videos on how to read food labels will also be shared. Our Zones and the Student bodies will participate in other activities to mark the month.