The hidden danger of processed foods

This is about the most sensible regulation attempt I have heard of in years, and I am not talking about Mututho. According to a report in the mother paper last week, the Consumers International and the World Obesity Federation are calling for the adoption of more stringent rules around the labelling of processed foods.

Both organisations want clear warnings on food packaging against the damage caused by obesity, in the same manner that cigarette manufacturers label their packets.  A few decades ago, cases of childhood obesity were rare. What was normally highlighted was malnutrition in young children, which sadly is still prevalent in many pockets of this country.

Hidden danger

Obesity is one of those neglected public health issues. Children may become obese due to genetic patterns within their family but the major causes are simply consuming too much processed food and lack of activity.

While children can be encouraged to have more play time, their diets tend to have all these hidden dangers disguised as ‘yummy treats’. The parents, who should know better are often guilty of introducing innocent children to high fat and sugar diets.

Many are totally unaware that processed foods, which we pick over natural foods thanks to false advertising, are grossly impacting on young children’s health.

It is difficult for children to develop healthy eating habits, while parents are bingeing on all manner of junk food. The sensible solution here is to go after the manufacturers of these products and enforce more stringent labelling requirements.

A lot of the foods in our supermarket shelves are highly refined, over processed with chemical additives and often zero nutritional value. False advertising that lures consumers with phrases like natural, healthy, fortified, vitamins must be curbed. Ultimately, we are what we eat and most of the packaged foods found in our kitchen cabinets are making our children sick.

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