Experts Clarify Misinformation on Staple Foods and Diabetes, Urge Balanced Diets
- July 31, 2025
- Posted by: cefrohtadmin
- Category: Agroecology
The Uganda National Civil Society Coalition on Front of Pack Warning Labelling (UNCC-FOPWL) has issued a clarification to correct misinformation from a recent article titled “Staple Foods Causing Diabetes.” While raising awareness about Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is crucial, the coalition emphasized that the disease is not caused by traditional staple foods like matooke, cassava, or millet. Instead, T2D arises from a combination of factors, including excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, genetic predisposition, and harmful habits like smoking and binge drinking.
The UNCC-FOPWL highlighted the nutritional value of Ugandan staples, which are rich in essential nutrients and form the foundation of a healthy diet. The real public health challenge lies in dietary imbalances, such as over-reliance on refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed products high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.