Will The Pandemic Change How People Eat For Good?

During the recent 2020 PMA Fresh Connections: Southern Africa conference, Dr William Li, a scientist and the author of the bestselling book Eat to Beat Disease, in conversation with Jaco Oosthuizen, CEO of RSA Group, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had given the fresh produce industry a golden opportunity to increase its focus on health and healthy eating.

- Dr William Li

South Africa has coped bravely with the direct medical threat of COVID- 19, but the pandemic has nonetheless exposed how vulnerable local communities are in terms of baseline health. The virus poses particularly severe risks for people with underlying health conditions, obesity and non-communicable diseases, underpinning many COVID-19 hospital admissions.

According to a recent article issued by the Association of Dietetics in South Africa, the country is currently dealing with a range of diet-related health concerns, including the problem of more than a quarter of the female adult population being overweight and more than a third obese. It is estimated that 269 000 annual deaths in the country are related to non-communicable diseases, and while the prevalence of overweight children is increasing, child under-nutrition persists, with stunting rates for children under five showing no reduction from the 27% reported in 2016.

While most people understand the importance of eating fresh produce, there is often a disconnect in consumers between what they know and what they do. Yet having a strong immune system is essential to everyday life, well-being and long-term prosperity.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FRESH PRODUCE INDUSTRY