Nutritionists must be involved in food standard approval to avoid malnutrition-Expert

He also mentioned that experts with knowledge in areas such as nutritionists could help assess the potential health implications of food products before they reach consumers.

However, Nkhuwa raised concern over what he described as limited consideration of nutrition expertise in the standardisation of imported and locally manufactured food products.

He said regulatory institutions should work more closely with nutrition professionals to ensure that the nutritional content of products is properly assessed.

“If there can be a deliberate policy by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to put a policy whereby any food that these corporate companies can make, they can incorporate an expert who understands the implication of drinking or eating this food,” he said.

Nkhuwa also called for increased participation of the private sector in efforts to address malnutrition and non-communicable diseases.

He said while the Government was engaging nutrition professionals through various sectors, including health and agriculture, there was still limited support and cooperation from the corporate world.

“The big challenge is the private sector. We need the involvement of the private sector in combating all these forms of non-communicable diseases and malnutrition,” Nkhuwa said.

He said consumers were increasingly exposed to convenient and highly processed foods and beverages, making it important for manufacturers to provide accurate and meaningful nutritional information.

Nkhuwa said the business community should not only focus on commercial interests but also consider the health consequences of the products being placed on the market.

Article by Philip Sinkala