Accra, Dec. 18, GNA – The Institute of Leadership and Development, a non-profit civil society organisation (CSO) has organised the third capacity building and consultative forum for CSOs and the media to draw a roadmap for the elimination of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) in Ghana’s food system.
The World Health Organisation has identified TFAs as the major cause of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as heart attacks and strokes among the population and had furnished countries with an action package called “REPLACE” to help eliminate those acids in the food supply systems by 2023.
REPLACE means to ‘Review’ dietary sources of industrially produced trans-fatty acids and the landscape for required policy change, and to ‘Promote’ the replacement of industrially-produced trans-fats with healthier fats and oil.
The rest are to ‘Legislate’ or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fats, and ‘Assess’ and monitor trans-fat content in the food supply and changes in consumption among the population.
It is also to ‘Create’ awareness of the negative health impact of TFA among policy-makers, producers, suppliers, and the public, and ‘Enforce’ compliance with policies and regulations.
The INSLA, a non-profit civil society organisation, is spearheading the implementation of REPLACE with support from other non-governmental organisations to campaign for the elimination of the TFAs in Ghana’s food supply system.
It is on the theme: “Making Ghana TFA Free to Improve Heart Health.”
Mr Issah Ali, the Project Manager, who made a presentation on TFA project activities, deliverables and global targets, urged civil society organisations to be proactive in protecting the health of the people while health authorities and researchers must come out with data on TFAs.
GNA