| Danial Norjidi |
GHANIM International Corporation Sdn Bhd and the Ministry of Health yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and launched a ‘Read the Label’ campaign.
The MoU between the two parties will see them jointly working together to promote a healthy lifestyle in Brunei Darussalam through campaigns and programmes aimed at raising awareness on healthy lifestyle eating habits and lifestyle practices.
Signing on behalf of Ghanim International Corporation was its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nur Rahman, while the Ministry of Health was represented by Dr Hajah Maslina binti Haji Mohsin, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the Ministry of Health.
Witnessing the signing ceremony were Ghanim International Corporation Chairman and Deputy Minister of Finance Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin. The ceremony was also attended by senior government officials from the Ministry of Health.
Both parties also launched the ‘Read the Label’ campaign which showcased a video promoting the act of reading food labels towards choosing healthier food options so that consumers are attentive of the nutritional information at the back in their food purchases.
Both sides stated the collaboration between them has been in ongoing discussion for some time, where Ghanim and Ministry of Health together are aligned in the aspirations to shift the greater public’s health education and overall wellbeing from a hand-to-mouth experience to one that is also educational, practical and beneficial in terms of food consumption.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ghanim CEO Dr Nur Rahman said in a speech, “Many countries around the world and the World Health Organization have initiated a programme to encourage reduction of salt, sugar and fat as a preventive measure to reduce non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, blood pressure, heart diseases and diabetes.
“Ghanim has been working to ensure that the products taken on board under the bruneihalalfoods brand add value to the lives of those who consume them with the aspirations that other manufacturers and food vendors will follow suit towards aligning with the ‘Read the Label’ initiative as part of their commercial and social responsibilities,” he added.
Ghanim International Corporation Chairman and Deputy Minister of Finance Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah with signatories and witness after the MoU signing. – DANIAL NORJIDI
“We have strived to source food products with reduced fat, salt and/or sugar without compromising taste profile. It is a goal that is both challenging and exciting for us.
“The healthier product options included reduced sodium salt (Nutrisal), sugar replacement (Provia), low fat creamer (Cremvia), cordials having 50 per cent reduction in sugar or no added sugar and low fat value added chicken products are currently available at retail outlets in Brunei.
“Customer responses are promising. It means people are ready to have their lives transformed for the better. That also means that they get to enjoy what they eat without concern,” he said.
He noted that since the start of discussions nearly a year ago, Ghanim and the Health Promotion Centre (HPC) have collaborated on a number of activities, including an awareness initiative on sugar, a ‘Healthy Portion Campaign’ during Ramadhan, a ‘Sugarless Syawal Campaign’ and the ‘Hua Ho Health Week.’
“At the heart of this success is HPC’s drive, as an influential organisation in the country, to have the necessary plans and structure in place that also serves as an opportunity to further our commercial and social responsibilities.”
He described the newly launched Read the Label campaign as an initiative that “not only solidifies HPC as an institution that has the greater public’s health education and overall well-being in mind; it is an institution that seeks to go to greater heights on the shift of food and beverage consumption to more than just a hand-to-mouth experience.”
“Consumers will find that bruneihalalfoods products will be readable in terms of its benefits and value-add through a system that is in line with HPC’s aspirations. There is no doubt that HPC is poised to lead this and various other initiatives to come that are undoubtedly educational, practical and beneficial for all,” he said.
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