Report by Ben LARYEA
The Director of the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA), a non-profit Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Mr. Benjamin Anabila has called on the stakeholders in the health sector to collectively work together to address and eliminate TransFatty Acids in the food value chain.
TransFatty Acids are found mainly in food preparation, snacks, fried food, oils among others and in the in cooking at homes, restaurants and food joints.
Group picture of participants
“This fatty acids in the human body leads to unhealthy cholesterol resulting to heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, memory loss, depression, brain disorders among others,” he said.
He said TFA is not well known in the dietary systems of the citizenry and explained that it is an emerging health challenge that have impacted negatively on the lives of many people across the country.
Mr. Benjamin Anabila made the call at a capacity building and consultative workshop for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media on the elimination of TransFatty Acids in human beings and food items in Accra.
It was organised by the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA) with support from Vital Strategies, Resolve to Save, Life/Links, Ministry of Health, Food and Drug Authority, Ghana Health Service, National Health Insurance Authority and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The primary objective of the programme was to create awareness on the negative impact of TFA and advocate for its elimination with the replacement of healthier oils and facts through the implementation of Ghana’s Public Health Act and World Health Organisation replacement TFA technical package.
Mr. Anabila urged the media to create awareness and sensitise the public on the harmful effects and the health implications of TFA in our food consumption saying Ghanaians must be health conscious about the numerous oil products on the market, adding that some are unwholesome and are not fit for food preparation
The Project Manager of INSLA, Mr. Issah Ali urged Civil Society Organisations and the media to highlight and prioritise TFA issues in the country’s health care delivery systems and challenged government to enforce compliance with policies and regulations.
He therefore called for a review of dietary sources of industrially produced trans fats and the landscape for required policy change as well as the replacement and appealed to government to legislate or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids in food items.
Mr. Issah Ali challenged the citizenry to engage in healthy diets to ensure healthy growth and development, adding that the right food ingredients be applied in cooking as well as the usage of certified oil for cooking.
“TFA must be eliminated in the country’s food supply chain”, he said adding that it has health hazards thus food preparation be well monitored to ensure food security and safety.
