Food safety: Safefood, the Food Safety Promotion Board, has launched a new food labelling resource targeting 13 to 15 year olds.
The programme aims to teach young people how to read and understand labels, thereby empowering them to make more informed choices throughout their lives that may improve their general health.
In a recent survey, Safefood found that 71 per cent of people only read labels occasionally, and 43 per cent were not satisfied with the information contained on food labels.
The resource, which forms an important component of the Social, Personal, Health Education (SPHE) curriculum at junior-cycle level, is designed to educate young people about how to read labels in a way that will have a positive influence on the choices they make with regard to their diet, from childhood right through to adulthood.
"Empowering young people to make informed decisions with regard to the food and drinks they consume is essential to help protect their health for the future," according to Safefood chief executive Martin Higgins.
"With obesity and diabetes on the rise, it is important that we implement measures now to help reverse this trend. We hope that teachers will use this resource in the classroom, thereby encouraging young people to adopt a healthier and more balanced diet."
The food labelling resource emerged as a result of the recommendations of an expert working group, established by the Minister for Agriculture and Food in July 2002. Developed by a team of nutrition and education experts, its components range from basic nutritional information to understanding health claims on labels.
Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan welcome the Safefood which she said would, "inform young teenagers of the content of food and drinks they consume and purchase... and will help them make informed sensible choices."
Nutritional disorders such as obesity are widespread on the island of Ireland with figures from the North South Food Consumption Survey indicating that 18 per cent of people are obese and a further 39 per cent overweight.
Among the complications which can arise as a result of an unhealthy diet are heart disease; diabetes and high blood pressure. The benefits of preventing this trend through education at a young age should not be underestimated.
Schools can request a pack by contacting Safefood at 1850 404 567.