The Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has launched a countrywide survey to evaluate how Ugandans perceive and interpret current labels on ultra-processed foods.
Supported by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), the study is a critical step toward introducing front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) in Uganda with the goal to provide consumers with the clarity needed to make healthier dietary choices at the point of purchase.
The survey comes at a time when Uganda and other African nations face an intensifying burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), many of which are directly linked to modern consumption patterns and highly processed diets.
“Our field experience now is determining which of the front-of-the-pack labels is best understood by the everyday person,” noted Dr. Madina M. Guloba, EPRC Senior Research Fellow. The survey includes interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with ordinary Ugandan shoppers.
Today, most nutritional information is tucked away on the back of packaging in fine print. Dr. Guloba noted that while Uganda has already developed a nutrient profiling model, the next challenge is visibility and accessibility.
The survey will test various labelling formats to see which one resonates most with the public. Moving information to the front of the pack ensures instant clarity, providing quick and easy-to-understand nutritional data.
