Latest update April 11th, 2025 9:20 AM
Importance of healthy diets emphasised at World Consumer Rights Day seminar
Given that poor diets account for more than 11 million deaths annually, consumers, producers, manufacturers, and food caterers who converged at the International Conference Centre for a half-day seminar yesterday, were
Carnegie School of Home Economics students demonstrating how to make healthy juices.
being reminded that it is important to pay attention to the foods we consume.
In this vein, Consumer International, the regulatory organisation in charge of consumer affairs globally, has selected to highlight the benefits of healthy eating during this year’s observance of World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD).
WCRD will be observed tomorrow and the global entity reported that diet-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular illnesses and diabetes are rapidly rising in developing economies.
This, the body underlined, has resulted in the death of more than eight million people before their 6th birthday, many in low and middle-income countries.
This year, WCRD is being observed under the theme “Helping Consumers Choose Healthy Diets” and it is against that backdrop that the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce in collaboration with the GNBS, Consumer Affairs Commission, the Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department and other consumer protection bodies, has planned a week of activities to share information to the general public, and to encourage consumers to become involved in efforts to champion their cause.
On March 15, annually, Consumer International and countries around the world place specific emphasis on examining the injustices meted out to consumers and issues which undermine their rights.
A section of the crowd yesterday.
To further this cause, a half-day seminar was held by the local Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) at the Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara centre to educate on the importance of healthy diets.
The event featured several presentations from the CCAC, Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Government Analyst- Food and Drug Department and the Ministry of Health, with all placing heavy emphasis on the benefits of healthy eating and consumers’ choices.
While addressing the gathering, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Derrick Cummings, urged all Guyanese to become familiar with the regulations contained in the Consumer Protection Legislation and to recognize that the law is already having an impact.
While he explained that all efforts are geared towards ensuring that the Guyanese populace remains healthy, Cummings urged those gathered to adopt the prescriptions and diets which lead to a healthy lifestyle.
During the activity, a tribute was paid to popular consumer advocate, Ms. Eileen Rosaline Cox who passed away last November at the age of 96.
Cox was a founding member of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), which was established in March 1964, and she built a reputation for being compassionate, resilient and persevering.
The gathering was also addressed by Consumer Affairs Officer, Kushana Archer; Secretary of CCAC, Alicia Primo; Technical Officer 2 of the GNBS, Rodlyn Semple; Food Inspector of the Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department, George Adams and Ministry of Health’s Nutritionist, Analese Roman.
Activities planned for the 2015 observance included radio and television programmes, a “cook for change competition” and the recently concluded seminar and mini exhibition.
At the conclusion of yesterday’s event, several participants won prizes; compliments of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Survival’s and Nigel’s Supermarket.
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