Clear food labels key in NCD fight

DAR ES SALAAM: THE rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease has prompted renewed calls for urgent policy reform in the food sector.

Among the most effective strategies being pushed globally and now locally is Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL), a simple yet powerful tool that gives consumers instant visual information about what they are eating.

While countries like Chile and Mexico have seen impressive results after implementing clear warning labels on high-fat, high-salt and high-sugar foods, Tanzania still lags, with outdated labelling laws and limited public awareness.

Currently, Tanzania’s food labelling system is guided by the Food (Control of Quality) Regulations of 1989 and 2006, which require only basic information such as ingredient lists, expiry dates and weight, typically printed on the back of packaging in English or Swahili.

These labels, while legally compliant, are not easily understood by the average consumer, especially in low literacy or rural areas and do little to signal the health implications of what is inside a packet.

This gap has been the driving force behind TAWLA’s (Tanzania Women Lawyers Association) nationwide advocacy for FOPL as part of its broader commitment to social justice and public health.

Recognising the direct impact that poor dietary information has on women and children, often the primary consumers and preparers of food in households, TAWLA has positioned itself as a key civil society leader pushing for stronger nutrition labelling policies.

Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), local NGOs and academic experts, TAWLA has been actively engaging communities and policymakers in dialogue on the benefits of adopting a simple, interpretive labelling system, such as traffic light colours or bold warning symbols in Swahili.

These systems visually indicate whether a product is high in sugar, salt, or fat, helping consumers, especially parents and young people, make better, faster decisions at the point of purchase.

TAWLA’s efforts go beyond high-level discussions. In local communities, the organisation has worked to educate women, parents and youths about the dangers of hidden sugars, salts and fats, linking these to diseases increasingly affecting Tanzanians from a young age.

Pilot programmes have shown that school-aged children, when educated about nutrition, influence household purchasing habits, especially when their lessons are reinforced by simple warning labels on products their parents recognise in shops.

“FOPL isn’t just a label. It’s empowerment, it guides children and families toward informed choices, nudging snacks away from sugar-laden temptations toward healthier options,” says Baraka Kiranga, a journalist and media trainer who has supported the campaign.

He believes that investing in prevention today, through smart policies like FOPL, can significantly reduce the healthcare burden in the future.

Indeed, studies in Chile and Mexico found that clear FOPL implementation led to significant drops in sugary drink purchases and a wave of product reformulations by food manufacturers to reduce harmful ingredients.

Similar changes could benefit Tanzania, where nutritionist Dr Hassan Rusobya of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) notes that many local manufacturers are unaware of FOPL’s value.

ALSO READ: Significant gains in NCDs fight

“Manufacturers often don’t understand what frontof-pack labelling means, it’s not about marketing, it’s about giving consumers the power to choose health,” said Dr Rusobya.

According to the country representative for the Global Health Advocacy Initiative, Mr Elinami Mungure, food transparency is essential in curbing the silent epidemic of unhealthy diets.

Mr Mungure said, “highly processed foods dominate shelves and are often stripped of nutritional value. FOPL brings clarity. It enables policies that protect

Moreover, TAWLA has advocated for FOPL to be designed in Kiswahili and pictorial formats, ensuring accessibility even to those with low literacy levels.

This inclusive approach ensures no consumer is left behind, particularly in rural or underprivileged communities, where nutrition-related diseases are rapidly rising but often overlooked.

However, the movement faces resistance. Larger manufacturers may be hesitant to change packaging or risk losing market share.

But, TAWLA has called for balanced implementation, suggesting that smallscale Tanzanian snack producers be supported rather than punished.

“Providing training on healthier recipes and offering guidance on compliant labelling can empower local entrepreneurs while aligning food production with national health goals,” says Mr Mungure.

The government has made some progress. In 2019, the National NCD Prevention and Control Programme was launched, integrating screening with other services like HIV care and training over 3,000 health workers.

By 2024, more than 150 NCD clinics were operating, with over 100,000 schoolaged children educated on NCD risk factors. Yet, a major gap remains: the absence of a national policy mandating FOPL or banning the marketing of unhealthy foods.

TAWLA, with its grassroots connections, legal expertise and unwavering focus on gender equity, remains central in this advocacy.

Their push for front-ofpack labelling is not just a call for policy change, it is a movement for public health, consumer protection and generational wellbeing.

Through continuous engagement with policymakers, communities and the private sector, TAWLA is shaping a future where every Tanzanian, regardless of background, can make informed food choices.