Junk Foods Claim 500,000 Lives Annually-Group

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), says 500,000 persons die annually across the globe.

They also deplored  the increasing fatalities arising from unhealthy consumption of junk foods.

The group, comprising the World Health Organisation (WHO)  Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), spoke at a press conference in Abuja, to mark this year’s World Food Day .

Speaking,Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA),expressed disgust  that fatalities associated to trans fat consumption in Nigeria has continued to rise.

He added that the development came especially with the surge in consumption of pastries, fast foods, packaged foods, processed foods, and baked foods which is easily described as junk food, adding that there is even more likelihood that more people will be at risk of major trans-fat induced health complications.

He implored authorities to legislate or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially produced trans-fat to safeguard the citizens.

The CAPPA boss however, noted that efforts are on to end the menace stressing that WHO in May 2018 launched a comprehensive plan “REPLACE’’ to eliminate industrially produced artificial trans-fats from global food supply by 2023.

“This statistic has led to the call for the global elimination of industrially produced trans-fat by 2023.

“The WHO in May 2018 launched a comprehensive plan “REPLACE’’ to eliminate industrially produced artificial trans-fats from global food supply by 2023.  The elimination of trans-fats is key to protecting health and saving lives” he said.

Besides, Dr Kazadi Walter Mulombo, the WHO Representative, disclosed that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for more than 70% of deaths globally, killing more than 41 million people each year. Unfortunately, more than 85% of these deaths occur in Low-and Middle-Income countries of which Nigeria is one.

Represented by Dr Obagha Chijoke, the WHO Representative, warned that ingestion of Industrially produced TFA have no known health benefits instead, it is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease with more than 500,000 deaths attributed.

In her remarks, Joy Amafah, the Nigeria Coordinator for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) Resolve to Save Lives Cardiovascular Health program, tasked the Federal Government on the passage of the fats and oils regulation.