Rebecca Okorie

BEFOREDEEPEDI TI NG/ PROOFREADI NG I NTHENI CKOFHEALTH Accor di ngt ot heMi ni st r yofHeal t hf r om t hest ar tof Augusti twi l l bemandat or yandenf or ceabl et he di spl ay i ngofcol ourcodesaccor di ngt osugar cont entper cent agei nal l sof tdr i nkbev er agest hat hav esugari nt hem. Di abet esi sabi gki l l erofSr i Lankans. Heal t handNut r i t i onMi ni st erDr .Raj i t haSenar at ne sai dt hatgazet t eN0.86of1980t oi nt r oducea col ourchar ti ndi cat i ngsugarl ev el si nbot t l esofsof t dr i nkwoul dbei mpl ement edf r om Jul y31.Basedon t hecol ourcode, ar edcol ourshoul dbedi spl ay edi f t hecont entofsugari sabov e11gper100ml Andan ambercol ourshoul dbeusedi ft hesugarl ev el i s bet ween2gand11gper100ml .Buti ft hesugar cont enti sl esst han2gr ams, t hegr eencol ouri s necessar yt obedi spl ay ed. Ther egul at i on’ scol or codi ngpr ocesscanbe usef ul l ydef i nedas‘ t r af f i cl i ghtf oodl abel l i ng”wher e pr oduct s( bot hf oodandbev er ages)pr oduct sar et o bel abel l edr ed, amberandgr een, i ndi cat i ngwhet her t hedegr eeofsal torsugarconcent r at i oni sei t her hi gh, medi um andl ow. Col ourcodi ngi sal sousef ul becausei tt el l s y ou—j ustbyl ooki ng—i fpr oduct shav el ow, hi ghor medi um amount soff at , sat ur at edf at , sugar sand sal t .Thecol orr edmeanst hatt hedr i nkorf oodi s hi ghi napar t i cul arnut r i entand, t hepubl i ci sadv i sed byt hemi ni st r yi nsuchcasest oconsumet hesel ess f r equent l yandi nl i t t l erquant i t i es.Wi t hamber i ndi cat i ngmedi um amount s, onemayconsumme f oodanddr i nkwi t hal l ormost l yamber smostoft he t i mesandgr eensi ndi cat i ngl owamount s, i tmeans gr eensar et heheal t hi erchoi ce. I napr ev i ousmessageongener al heal t hpol i cy , t he Hon.Mi ni st erofHeal t h, Nut r i t i onandI ndi genous Medi ci nehassai d: “ Goodheal t hi scent r al t ohumanhappi nessandwel l bei ng, andal somakesani mpor t antcont r i but i ont o economi cpr ogr essofani ndi v i dual , oracount r yasa whol e. ”Heal sosai dt hatSr i Lankacanbepr oudof t hesuccessi thasachi ev edsof ari ni t sHeal t h Sect ort hr oughcar ef ul pl anni ngandef f i ci ent execut i onofpr ogr ammes.Hesai dt hathehasno doubtt hatwi t hpr operpl anni ngandi nv est menti n bot hi nf r ast r uct ur eandheal t h per sonnel , Sr i Lankahast hepot ent i al t odev el opa heal t hsy st em compar abl et ot hest andar ds compar abl et ot hosei ndev el opedcount r i es.I nt he message, heal sot hankedal l t heheal t h pr of essi onal swhocont r i but edt ohi snewheal t h pl anf ort henat i on. Accor di ngt oDrHemant hHer at h, Deput yDi r ect orof t heFoodCont r ol Admi ni st r at i v eUni toft heHeal t h Mi ni st r y , bev er agebot t l eswi t ht hegr eencol or codi ngwi l l r ev eal t hatt heyhav easugarcont entof l esst hant wogr amsf or100ml .Bot t l esl abel l edwi t h amberl abel edwi l l hav easugarcont entbet ween t woand12gr amsper100ml andt her edl abel wi l l bepl acedondr i nkscont ai ni ngmor et han11gr ams ofsugarf or100ml . Doct orHer at hsai dt hi swasbasedonWor l dHeal t h Or gani sat i onst andar ds. Headdedt hatmor et han70%oft hepat i ent s seeki ngt r eat mentatgov er nmenthospi t al s, suf f er f r om noncommuni cabl edi seasest hatar ecaused byexcessconsumpt i onofsugar , sal tandf at ." I hopet hi scol ourcodewoul dhel ppeopl et oi dent i f y heal t hi eropt i ons, ’ t heHeal t handMedi ci neMi ni st er sai d. Shesai dameet i ngwashel dwi t hsof tdr i nk manuf act ur er sr egi st er edundert heSr i Lanka ChamberofCommer ceaboutt hei mpl ement at i onof col ourcodi ngandt hatf r om August1al l bev er ages shoul ddi spl ayt hei rsugarl ev el saccor di ngt ot he sugarcont ent s, butaccor di ngt ot hemi ni st er , some sof tdr i nkmanuf act ur eshav ecl ai medt heywer e agai nstt hi schange.Themi ni st r yhasmadei t mandat or yf oral l dr i nkmaker st oabi debyt he gazet t enot i f i cat i onbecauset heheal t hmi ni st r yhas beenpl anni ngt hi schangei nt her ul esf ort hel ast f i v ey ear s.I naddi t i on, t her ear emeasur esbei ng dr awnupt oi ssueanor dert ot obaccocompani est o pr i ntpacket sofci gar et t ewi t houtent er i ngr emar ks aboutt hepr oductaswel l , t hest at ementadded. Thel egi sl at i onwhi chmakesi tl egal l ynecessar yt o showpi ct ur escar r y i ngwar ni ngst hatcov er80 per centofeachci gar et t epackwasunani mousl y passedi npar l i amentsomet i meback. Sugari nsof tdr i nksi st houghtbysomel ocal heal t h exper t st ogr eat l ycont r i but et owar dst her i sei n noncommunacabl edi seaseswear eseei ngt hese day ssuchashi ghbl oodpr essur e, di abet es, cancer andobesi t y .Thati swhyt heMi ni st r yhasmade mandat or yf ort hecol our codi ngt obev i si bl easpar t oft hei rr educt i onpr ogr ammef orsal tandsugar . Someheal t hpr of essi onal ssayt hedai l ysugar r equi r ementi sbet ween10and12gr amsort wo t easpoonsperdaywher east heav er ageSr i Lankan consumesabout60gr amsperday . Si ncet hepr oposedr egul at i onswoul dr equi r et ea bout i ques( smal l caf es) , f oodout l et sand r est aur ant st opr ov i desugarandsal tsepar at el y i nst eadofaddi ngt heset ot hemeal ordr i nk, i tt ook f i v ey ear sf ort hegazet t enot i f i cat i ont obe i mpl ement ed.Mr .El l awel asai dt hati nmostway si de caf esi nSr i Lanka, acupoft eacont ai nsmor esugar t hani snecessar y . Mor eov er , chi l dr enwhoar eov er wei ghtar emor e l i kel yt odev el opi l l nessessuchast y pe2di abet es, hav eani ncr easedl i kel i hoodofwei ghtandheal t h pr obl emsi nadol escenceandar emor el i kel yt o becomeov er wei ghtorobeseadul t s. Medi aSecr et ar yt ot heHeal t hMi ni st r y , Ni pun Ekanay akesai dsof tdr i nkscompani esdi dn’ twantt o i mpl ementt henewsy st em ofcol orcodi ngasi tr i sks r esul t i ngi nal ossofbusi nessbutt hemi ni st r yhas, af t eral l , madei tmandat or yt ot hosewhoar e r egi st er edundert heSr i LankaChamberof Commer ce. Col ourcodi ngwi l l bedi spl ay edj ustasi nf or mat i on usual l yappear sont hebackofapackt hati sal so compul sor ysuchasi nf or mat i onaboutt he i ngr edi ent s, nut r i t i onal composi t i on, knownal l er gens, ‘ bestbef or e’ or‘ useby ’ dat esandt hewei ghtoft he pr oductandi ngr edi ent sar et y pi cal l yl i st edi nor der , st ar t i ngwi t ht hehi ghest quant i t yi ngr edi entf i r st , downt ot hel owest -quant i t yi ngr edi entl ast . “ I fy ouf i ndsugaratt het opoft hel i st , t hef oodi s l i kel yt obehi ghi nsugar , ”t heMedi aSecr et ar ysai d. Theobj ect i v eoft hi sr egul at i onwast omakei teasi er f orpeopl et omakei nf or medchoi cesbasedonhow heal t hyapar t i cul arf oodi s. ” " Fr om August01al l sof tdr i nksshoul ddi spl ayt hei r sugarl ev el s.Somesof tdr i nkmanuf act ur eswer e agai nstt hi smov e.It ol dt hem t hatt heyhadt oabi de byt hegazet t enot i f i cat i on. Thet axesonsugarwi l l al sobei ncr eased, Mi ni st er Senar at nesai d.Mr .Her at hsai dasur v eycar r i edout i nt heWest er nPr ov i ncehadr ev eal edt hatt hesugar l ev el , par t i cul ar l yamongchi l dr en, washi ghert han av er age. AFTERDEEPEDI TI NG/ PROOFREADI NG Tr af ficLi ghtRul est oTackl eSr iLankaDi abet es Scour ge Asat eenager , Rav i Fer nandowoul dguzzl easmany asf i v ebot t l esofhi sf av our i t esof tdr i nkev er yday af t erawor kout .Nowachr oni cdi abet essuf f er er , t he 30y ear ol dwi sheshe’ dknownt hathi ssweett oot h wasr ui ni nghi sdr eam ofbecomi ngawor l df amous at hl et e. Thankf ul l y , f el l owSr i Lankanswi l l beabl et omake smar t erchoi cesabouthowt heyquencht hei rt hi r st , f ol l owi ngnewr ul est hatwi l l f or cebev er agemaker s t or ev eal pot ent i al l yhazar doussugarl ev el si nsof t dr i nks. Fr om August1, al l sodacompani eswi l l hav et o smackacol ourcodeont hei rbot t l esshowi ng consumer s, atagl ance, whet hert hesugarcont ent maybehar mf ul .Thet r af f i cl i ghtl abel l i ngsy st em wi l l hel ppeopl ei nst ant l yt oknowwhet hert heheap ofsugari nasof tdr i nki shi gh, medi um, orl ow. Redwi l l i ndi cat et hatt hesugarcont enti smor et han 11gr amsper100mi l l i l i t r es, whi l eamberpoi nt st oa doseofbet ween2gand11g.Gr eendenot est hatt he dr i nkhasasugarcont entofl esst han2g.The gov er nmentpl ansl at ert oi nt r oduceasi mi l arcol our codi ngsy st em t oexposesal tandf atcont enti n v ar i oust y pesoff ood. Spoonf ulofMeasur es Thel at estmeasur es, basedonWor l dHeal t h Or gani zat i ongui del i nesf orheal t hysugar consumpt i on, hav ebeeni nt hewor ksf orf i v ey ear s. Thepl answer eunv ei l edbyt hemi ni st erf orheal t h, nut r i t i on, andi ndi genousmedi ci ne, Dr .Raj i t ha Senar at ne. Undert henewr ul es, caf es, r est aur ant s, andot her f oodout l et swi l l al sohav et oof f ersugarandsal t separ at el yt ocust omer s—i nst eadofpacki ngt hem i nsi deameal orhotdr i nk.Mi ni st erSenar at nesai d t axesonsugarwi l l al soi ncr easeaspar tofa packageofnewheal t hboost i ngmeasur es. Thecol ourcodeswi l l appearal ongsi deot hermust hav ei nf or mat i ononf oodanddr i nki t ems, suchas t hel i stofi ngr edi ent s, det ai l saboutt hei rnut r i t i onal v al ue, al l er gywar ni ngs, andexpi r ydat es.The measur eswi l l makei tal oteasi erf orpeopl et o chooseheal t hi erdr i nks. I twoul dbecl eart oany one, f ori nst ance, t hatadr i nk wi t hagr eenl abel wast heheal t hi estchoi ce, whi l ean ambercol ourwoul dmeant hatt hebev er agewas saf eenought ogul pdownmostoft het i me. Sweet Toot hNat i on Thegov er nmentwaspr ompt edt oactast henat i on’ s heal t hcont i nuest owor sen.Accor di ngt osome heal t hpr of essi onal s, t heav er ageSr i Lankani ngest s about60gofsugareachday —muchmor et hant he r ecommendeddai l ydoseofbet ween10gand12g, orr oughl yt hr eet easpoons. Local heal t hexper t sal sosayt hatexcessi v esugari n sof tdr i nksi scont r i but i ngt oar i si ngnumberof casesofl i f et hr eat eni ngdi seases, suchasdi abet es, hi ghbl oodpr essur e, andcancer . “ Ihopet hi scol ourcodewoul dhel ppeopl et oi dent i f y heal t hi eropt i ons, ”t heheal t hmi ni st ersai d, addi ng t hatmor et han70%ofpeopl eseeki ngt r eat menti n gov er nmenthospi t al spr esent edwi t hi l l nesses l i nkedt oov er consumpt i onofsugar , sal t , andf at . Obesi t yi sanot herconcer n: ov er wei ghtchi l dr en, i n par t i cul ar , ar emor el i kel yt odev el opi l l nessessuch ast y pe2di abet esi nl at erl i f e. Thel at estmeasur esar epar tofawi dergov er nment pusht oi mpr ov et heheal t hofSr i Lankanst hatal so i ncl udesf or ci ngt obaccocompani est ocar r ybi gger heal t hwar ni ngsonci gar et t epacket s. Sal t yResponse Themi ni st erhasal sosai danot herofhi sambi t i ons i st omakeSr i Lanka’ sheal t hcar esy st em asgoodas ot her si nmor edev el opedcount r i es.St i l l , not ev er y oneshar est hegov er nment ’ sent husi asm f or t hel at estmeasur es. Dr .Senar at nesai dt hatsev er al sof t dr i nkmaker s hadscof f edatt hecol our codi ngsy st em atar ecent meet i ng.Onesmal l Eur opebaseddr i nkmakert hat r ecent l yent er edt heSr i Lankanmar kethassi nce sai di twasconsi der i ngpul l i ngoutoft hecount r y . “ Somesof t dr i nkmanuf act ur er swer eagai nstt hi s mov e, ”sai dt hemi ni st er .“ It ol dt hem t hatt heyhad t oabi debyt hegazet t enot i f i cat i on. ” Thechangesmayhav ecomet ool at ef ordi abet es pat i ent sl i keRav i Fer nando.Buthehopest hatwi t h t r af f i cl i ghtl abel l i ng, ot herki dswi l l beabl et omake smar t erdeci si ons, especi al l yi ft heyhav espor t y ambi t i onsasheoncedi d. “ I fI ’ dhadabet t eri deaofwhi chdr i nkswer el i kel yt o causet hemosthar mt omyheal t h, ”hesai d, “ I ’ d def i ni t el yhav est eer edcl earoft hewor stoft hem. ”