• IN a country where diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes are rife, knowing the contents, and salt and sugar levels of the food that you are eating could not be more important.

This is the argument of the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) which has embarked on a series of roadshows to raise awareness on front-of-packaging labelling, with their next stop being The Workshop in Durban on Monday and Tuesday. The organisation is calling on the South African government to ratify regulations that make it mandatory for foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat to carry a clear warning label on the front of packages.

HEALA CEO Nzama Mbalati said the campaign is about raising awareness while the petition fights for the people of SA. He said, “Some packaged foods put us at risk of dangerous, life-altering illnesses. South Africans have the right to understand the ingredients in the food they eat. For many consumers, back-of-pack labels are complicated and difficult to read, making it nearly impossible for people to choose healthier alternatives.”

A study released by Public Health Nutrition said low-income South African adults consume, on average, 40% of their calories from ultra-processed products. The BMJ Journal found direct links between lengthened exposure to ultra-processed foods and heart disease deaths, poor mental health, obesity and diabetes.

Also Read: KZN Health MEC encourages healthy living in Heart Awareness Month

HEALA believes that consumers need to be empowered to make informed, and healthier decisions when buying food – especially when trying to identify healthier options. Mbalati said the  Department of Health has had almost two years to ratify the R3337 (formally referred to as the Draft Regulation Relating to Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs published by the SA National Department of Health on April 21, 2023) and has failed to do so.

“Regulations will make it easier for us to readily identify foods that are bad for our health and choose better for ourselves. We urgently need easy-to-read warning labels that highlight the dangerous contents in some of these packaged foods,” said Mbalati. “South Africans have been waiting since the conclusion of the public consultation process on September 21, 2023. Time is up, our health is on a steady decline, and we are vulnerable to predatory food manufacturers that prioritise profit over the wellness of the masses.”

HEALA called on all South Africans to add their voice to the call for the Department of Health to protect public health by signing the petition at heala.org.

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