Government urged for measures to cut down the consumption on ultra-processed foods

Special correspondent Daily Relation Times  Muhammad Daniyal     Government urged for measures to cut down the consumption on ultra-processed foods
Islamabad. Excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods in our diet has significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and many other fatal diseases. Sugary drinks, dairy desserts, candies and baked foods are the top four major source of sugar intake in the diet. The lack of essential nutrients and fiber in ultra-processed foods deprives our bodies of the ingredients required for optimal well being. Higher taxes on sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods are an evident based policy action to reduce their consumption. This was stated by health experts during a session on “Lifestyles and non-communicable diseases” jointly organized by Heartfile and Pakistan National Heart Association at a local hotel in Islamabad. Those who attended the session include Consultant at Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) Mr. Munawar Hussain, General Secretary Pakistan National Heart Association Mr. Sanaullah Ghumman, CEO heartfile Dr. Saba Amjad, General Secretary Pakistan Kidney Patients Welfare Organization Mr. Ghulam Abbas, Ex-Commissioner Mr. Abdul Hafeez, health professionals, representatives of civil society and media.
Mr. Munawar Hussain said that nearly two third of all deaths in Pakistan are due to non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes are the major killers of Pakistanis. Pakistan globally ranked at top with highest prevalence of diabetes. If no immediate policy action taken number of people living with diabetes will increase to 62 million by 2045. It is pivotal that government should take a holistic action to ensure access to heathy diet and reduce intake of sugar, salt, saturated fats and transfats in the diet. Increasing tax on all type of sweet drinks and ultra-processed products is an evidence based strategy to reduce the consumption of these unhealthy foods. He said that the revenue generated by taxing the ultra-processed foods must be earmarked to subsidize and promote healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and lentils etc to improve public health.
Dr. Saba Amjad said that Pakistan is facing a rapid increase in non-communicable diseases in recent years. She said that regulating industrially produced transfats by setting no more than 2 percent of limit in all foods sources is important to cut down the heart diseases. In addition, the government should take a holistic action to reduce consumption of all ultra-processed foods, especially the sugary drinks and products which are high in sugar, salt, saturated fats and transfats.
Mr. Sanaullah Ghumman, General Secretary PANAH said it is an encouraging development that several civil society organizations are now demanding government to take policy actions for reducing the consumption of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods. The government must prioritize the public health over the corporate interest. We at PANAH are raising awareness on healthy lifestyle since last 40 years. We are also working with policy makers for policies to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods causing chronic diseases. We urge government to consider increasing taxes on all type of sugary drinks and expand taxation to ultra-processed