UWC lecturer champions healthier food choices

A NEWLY appointed academic at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is helping shape national food policy, with research aimed at making healthier choices more accessible and protecting consumers from misleading marketing.

- STAFF REPORTER

Dr Tamryn Frank, based at the School of Public Health at UWC, has built a career focused on the structural drivers of poor nutrition, from supermarket shelves to university campuses.

Often jokingly referred to as the “food police”, Frank’s work centres on advocating for clearer food labelling and tighter regulation of how unhealthy foods are marketed.

“We need to change the structures, not just blame individuals,” she said, adding that policies must be practical, science-based, and designed to protect consumers.

Her research has already contributed to South Africa's draft health regulations, including proposals that would require clear warning labels on foods high in sugar, salt, or fat. The aim is to help consumers make more informed choices at a glance.