22 Mar 2015

The Ministry of Trade and Industry’s senior commercial officer in Kasane Ms Mavis Molapong has urged business owners to take responsibility for disclosure of information regarding their products in order for consumers to be cautious when making dietary decisions.

Speaking at a World Consumer Rights day commemoration in Kasane on Thursday March 19, Ms Molapong said there is recognition of the fact that consumers are not fully aware of unhealthy choices in respect to their diet. She highlighted four causes of death that are linked to unhealthy diets worldwide which are: weight gain and obesity; high blood pressure; high blood glucose and high cholesterol.

Ms Molapong noted that businesses put a lot of resources in ensuring that the highly processed foods sell by engaging in aggressive marketing, wide distribution and providing affordable prices. She said this together with the lack of holistic information on the product makes it difficult for people, especially children to resist the variety, thus failing to make good and healthy choices.

“Since consumers deserve the right not just to any food but to healthy food, their choices are a central part of the equation to ensuring nutritious but less costly diets,” she added.

The officer further said there is need therefore to promote use of wholesome traditional foods as they are healthy and less costly. When answering a question about the safety of nutritional supplementary pills sold on the streets, Ms Linda Majola, a principal registered nurse with Kasane Primary Hospital said they do not encourage people to buy such pills.

She noted that they may be harmful to the human body and that a balanced diet is enough to produce the necessary nutrients needed by the body.
Furthermore, she encouraged people to go for medical check-ups to see whether there are some deficiencies in them so they may be corrected before they become life threatening.

She also emphasised regular exercise and proper eating to maintain healthy living, adding that field crops are the best nutritious food one can eat as they are free from fats and salts, unlike junk food from fast foods restaurants. ENDS