Supermarket Tours Highlight Diabetes Week

Supermarket Tours Highlight Diabetes Awareness Week

Supermarket tours helping people understand nutrition information panels on food products will be running in Gisborne during Diabetes Awareness Week.

The tours will run in Woolworths Supermarket Gladstone Road on specified days between Tuesday 18 November and Monday 24 November.

Diabetes Gisborne organised the tours with support from Tairawhiti District Health nutrition, physical activity and diabetes advisory group Te Kete Mauriora, said Diabetes Gisborne Secretary Margaret McKeague.

“The aim of the tours is to empower people so they feel confident reading and understanding a nutrition information panel. It will help them choose healthier food options when supermarket shopping,” said Mrs McKeague.

By the end of the tour participants will be able to identify the kinds of foods that are better for the health of the family, make educated comparisons between products, and choose foods that are low in total fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar.

There will also be tips for people with diabetes or at risk of diabetes passed on during the tour.

Tairawhiti District Health Dietitians Hiki Pihema, Julie Hunter and Nicky Mathieson, are part of Te Kete Mauriora and will join the nine-strong team of community nutrition educators taking the tours.

Mrs Pihema said the tours will teach participants how to interpret a manufacturer’s nutrient claim.

“For example, where a manufacturer makes a nutrition claim such as ‘low in sugar’, it is helpful to read the panel and note whether the manufacturer is talking about naturally occurring sugar, or added sugar.”

“Did you know a 400ml bottle of Just Juice contains approximately eight teaspoons of natural sugar?”

Woolworths Manager Bevan Brabyn said the tours will be valuable for Woolworths customers wanting to monitor food intake.

Some staff will also take part in a tour.

“Many of our Woolworths staff field questions from the public on where to find food appropriate for people with diabetes. With some education staff will be in a better position to advise our customers where the food items they are looking for can be found.“

The Diabetes Awareness Week public tours will run on:

Tuesday 18 November Wednesday 19 November Monday 24 November

Tour times will be 9am –10am, 10.30 am-11.30am and 1.30pm-2.30pm.

Tour groups will be limited to eight people only. Book your tour day and time with Diabetes Gisborne on (06) 868 4415.

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