Motsoaledi: laws to make SA healthy

Speaking at a meeting in Cape Town, Motsoaledi outlined the ministry’€™s intention to introduce laws that will help South Africans be healthier, such as restricting fatty acid and salt content in food.

‘€œIf we don’€™t act, our life expectancy will be back to what it was in 1965,’€ he said according to a SAPA report. “Countries must make laws to deal with these issues… We will be making a lot of noise about these during the year.”

Motsoaledi warned that fats and salt ‘€“ ‘€œmuch loved by the food industry, but hated by our hearts’€ ‘€“ will be targeted in the ministry’€™s efforts.

He pointed out that although South Africa only makes up 0.7% of the world’€™s population, the country carried more than 1% of the burden of non-communicable disease’€”this is more than two times higher than the average for developing countries.

“We need to control fatty acids …we need to control salts, such as brine in chicken and salt in bread, cereals and soups,” Motsoaledi said. “We need laws to reduce the levels of these things in our food… If we have to go to Parliament to legislate it, we will.”

Source: SAPA

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    Health-e News is South Africa's dedicated health news service and home to OurHealth citizen journalism. Follow us on Twitter @HealtheNews

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