The world commemorates and celebrates consumer rights on March 15.
Every year a specific theme is chosen by Consumers International. This year they’ve chosen consumers’ right to healthy food.
The need to focus on healthy eating has arisen from the fact that unhealthy diets are linked to four of the 10 biggest causes of death worldwide. These are: being overweight and obesity; high blood pressure;high blood glucose; and high cholesterol.
Consumers International states that the impact of poor diets on health now exceeds that of smoking. The effect of obesity on the global GDP is equivalent to the cost of war, gun violence and terrorism.
By focusing on the importance of healthy eating, Consumers International, with the help of consumer organisations all over the world, wants to educate consumers on how to choose healthy food. Consumers deserve the right not just to food, but to healthy food.
Health problems caused by unhealthy eating can be significantly diminished if consumer food choices are redirected to healthy food.
The impact of poor diets on health now exceeds that of smoking
Unfortunately, the availability and affordability of unhealthy foods, the marketing practices of large international good companies and the lack of information available to consumers makes it increasingly hard for consumers to opt for healthy food.
To support Consumers International’s initiative to protect and promote healthy diets the Office for Consumer Affairs within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority will be organising a family activity on March 14 at Galleria Shopping and Entertainment Centre in Fgura between 10am and 2pm.
Being held in collaboration with the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate, the activity will feature information desks giving useful information on healthy eating.
Information will also be provided on rights consumers have when they shop locally and when they buy goods or services from other EU member states.
Besides information, there will also be entertainment for children, such as face painting and balloon modelling.
Animators will also be setting up puppet shows for children on how to eat healthily.The public is invited to attend. Entrance is free.
odette.vella@mccaa.org.mt
Odette Vella is senior information officer, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.