Providing false information on food items:
Action to be taken against misleading advertisements
Athapattu Bandara
Health Services Director General Palitha Maheepala, has instructed
Health Ministry officials to take maximum legal action against
advertisements which mislead the public by providing false and incorrect
information on food items.
As 2013 has been declared as the Year of Prevention of Non
Communicable Deceases, he said some advertisements publicized through
the media has misled the public and provided incorrect information on
foods. Some of the information on food items have been incorrect and had
provided extensive publicity for food items that were low in quality.
It has been reported that though these advertisements have persuaded
the public of the good qualities, they have proved unauthentic.
Therefore, steps would be taken to provide reliable information on
food items and prevent wrong and falsified information from the media.
As per the power vested on the Director General of Health by the Foods
Act, Heath Minister Maithripala Sirisena’s directives to the Heath
Ministry would systematize advertisements and verify the authenticity of
these advertisements.
The food items should comply with the orders issued from the food
branding and propagation issued in 2005 under article 26 of the Food Act
of 1980. Information on the quality, nature, value, composition,
nutrition, and safety of foods would never be
violated as per with the rules of the Food Act. It is prohibited to
pack, brand, brew, sell and propagate if the food items were not
compatible with the standard requirements.
The Director General has already cancelled some of the advertisements
proven to be false information. If any advertisement is popularized,
prior approval should be taken from the Heath Services Director General.
The initiative would come into practice as it has been proven that
some of the advertisements have lured merchants to sell their items by
creating unnecessary fear among public, he said. |