Parents support front-of-package warning labels for foods
There is a concerted effort among parents to provide healthier foods and beverages for their children, in order to reduce their risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Some parents who spoke with Jamaica Observer on Thursday expressed support for the Heart Foundation of Jamaica’s (HFJ) Protect Our Children’s Health mass media campaign, but admitted that they take issue with foods their children eat at school and the cost for healthier meals.
The campaign, which was launched on Wednesday, is expected to encourage public support for the octagonal, front-of-package warning labels, particularly for those foods and beverages high in sodium, sugar, saturated and trans fat, to effectively help consumers make conscious choices.
Mother-of-three Tahisha Whyte, whose youngest is a seven-year-old girl, strongly agreed with the push for front-of-package warning labels.
“The campaign is a good move. The labels on packages need to be there because parents should be informed of what they are buying for their children, so they can make a conscious decision when it comes on to what they give them in their bodies. At the end of the day, our health is what matters,” she said.
Whyte told the Observer that she tries to prepare better meals for her daughter at home than what she gets at school, even though they might not be highly nutritious.
“At school, it might be a concern because she doesn’t eat the cooked meals there; instead she would buy patty. But when I am at home, I try to prepare lunch like chicken tenders which is not even healthy but it’s much better than what she gets at school,” she said.
At the same time, a parent who gave her name as Shanice said her six-year-old daughter does not enjoy the cooked meals at school and might purchase a patty or slices of pizza instead.
With regard to making better eating choices, she said healthy snacks are expensive and not liked by some children.
“You have some healthy snacks, and you find that kids hardly eat those. Also, it all depends on what a parent can afford; for example, I can maybe buy a biscuit and another parent can only afford a cheese snack. Some parents would even make the effort to make macaroni and cheese for their children to carry to school, but it will get cold. The classroom doesn’t have a microwave and they are saying you have to get a [portable] warmer; that’s too much for a child to carry,” she argued.
Sadie-Ann Sutherland Bryce, who has a 13-year-old daughter, said the epidemic of NCDs affecting the population influenced her decision to provide better food options for her child.
“Yes, I support that [campaign]. It’s always best to eat healthier, especially with what is happening with the diabetes and the hypertension. I try to cut her off from chips and the sweet biscuits – thankfully, she doesn’t like a lot of those,” she said.
“She also drinks a lot of water; she would rather carry water to school, and at home she drinks it a lot too and I give her fruits,” said Sutherland Bryce, noting that she checks nutrition fact panels on items when purchasing, but would prefer if they had front-of-packaging labels.
Meanwhile, Larose Sutherland who has boys ages 15 and 12 years and an 11-year-old girl, added: “I don’t buy certain snacks that contain MSG. I rather they have healthy stuff like fruits. Once in a while, they will have chips and I ensure that they drink water. I balance them with greens, sometime if I do eggs, I won’t do it again until the next two or three days.”
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has announced that a school nutrition policy will be developed to keep children healthy by encouraging them to increase the consumption of vegetables and drinking more water as opposed to sugary beverages.
Further, chief executive officer of the National Parenting Support Commission Kaysia Kerr stressed that the nutritional health of children has always been a concern at the organisation.
“Poor nutrition presents ill health but also an unreadiness to access learning. We have a curriculum and we have built in our module training sessions on nutrition. We have been training parents across the country on how to create better meals for their children that do not compromise the nutritional value and how to use basic everyday, cost-effective ingredients to prepare nutritious meals,” Kerr said.
“If they can find a way to cater better to their children that will not break the bank, then they are going to be receptive,” she added, noting that NPSC has partnered with HFJ and the Ministry of Health and Wellness to promote healthier habits.