Revise LEAP to include healthy food coupons – Nutrition Expert

Health News Thursday, April 25, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-04-25

Scientists are calling for a review of the livelihoods empowerment program against poverty to include healthy food stamps.

According to nutrition expert Professor Richmond Nii Okai Aryeetey, it is essential to ensure that beneficiary families eat such foods.

"An evaluation of our LEAP program has revealed that a lot of it is used to buy food, but we do not know what they are buying because they do not have a condition. Perhaps we could do better by learning from other countries, "he said.

Professor Aryeetey, a contributor to the Researching Obesogenic Food Environment Research Group (ROFE), spoke at a workshop in Kumasi.

Recent studies in Ghana show that most households depend on traditional markets for food, including processed foods.

Great variety, low price and proximity dictate preferences.

Professor Aryeetey observed that the non-segmentation of the market had hardly encouraged the consumption of fresh foods.

"The same vendors selling processed foods sell fresh produce and most processed products are cheaper and attractive and they have no choice but to buy," he said. declared.

"It becomes a competitive interest. Should you buy the fresh tomato that is expensive or the processed tomato that is cheaper? He asked.

He advocates subsidies for vendors of fresh produce to encourage consumption.

The national prevalence of overweight and obesity has been estimated at 25.4%

Obesity is an important risk factor for hypertension, diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases.

Preliminary results suggest that Ghana's environment is inundated with foods that increase the risk of obesity and badociated complications.

It has also emerged that unhealthy foods are widely used by young people and women.

Kamil Mohammed, from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, urges urban farmers to make fresh foods available to local consumption.

"This can make food products readily available in the local market, allowing people to have easy access to healthy foods," he said.

Mr. Mohammed also encourages the proper handling of food to reinforce favoritism, stating, "We must have appropriate standards."

Dr. Kingsley Pereko, president of the Ghana Association for Nutrition, said the country's food regulations were not adapted to the changing food environment.

"The oldest existing laws have not really anticipated some of the events we are looking at. Food regulation is focused on processed foods entering the country, "he said.

Research on Obesogenic Food Environments (ROFE) is a three-year joint study between Ghana and South Africa.

Khayelitsha in South Africa, as well as Ahodwo and Ejuratia in Ghana, were selected for this study.

The program, funded by the International Development Research Center, seeks to understand the changing nature of marketed food products in poor communities in both countries.

Among the goals are the drivers of change and the potential to improve the health of the local food market.

The second phase of the program focused on retail energy and value chain governance.

The third phase badyzes governance and the political economy and identifies political opportunities.

The researchers embarked on a learning journey by visiting Darko Farms in Kumasi, food warehouses, vendors and shopping malls.

Dr. Reginald Adjettey, principal investigator, thinks that it will equip stakeholders with the tool needed to better address the identified issues.

"For us, it gives stakeholders a better understanding of the issues than sitting around and formulating policies," he said.