Letter of the Day | Fried chicken frenzy versus public health: a call for policy alignment
Published:Friday | June 20, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
On June 18, KFC Jamaica marked its 50th anniversary with ‘Buy one, get one free’ promotion. Long lines formed outside outlets across the island many filled with schoolchildren still in their uniforms, and families eagerly waited for the 10 a.m. opening of the outlets.
While corporate milestones are worthy of celebration, this particular event highlights a pressing public health concern. Jamaica is currently grappling with an alarming rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and diet-related health challenges. Mass promotions that push calorie-dense, ultra-processed foods particularly to children only deepen this crisis.
UNICEF’s Fix My Food campaign reports that more than one in three Jamaican children are overweight or obese – the highest rate in the Caribbean. The campaign also revealed that 68 per cent of adolescents drink sugary beverages daily, with nearly half consuming them multiple times per day. Meanwhile, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica states that 54 per cent of Jamaicans over age 15 are overweight or obese, and the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey shows that 33.8 per cent of adults suffer from hypertension many unknowingly.
This health burden is straining families and our national healthcare system.
Simultaneously, the government is championing the National School Nutrition Policy, which aims to eliminate unhealthy food options from school environments. Yet, just beyond school gates, students are bombarded by fast-food advertising and marketing ploys. Social media footage of children and parents in lengthy queues and scramble for fried chicken paints a conflicting picture one of health promotion inside classrooms, and nutritional sabotage outside.
This is not an indictment of families. Many are simply doing what they can within tight budgets and limited food options. Rather, this is a call for stronger, coordinated action and regulatory oversight.
We must:
• Restrict fast-food marketing, especially when it targets children or occurs near schools.
• Introduce clear front-of-package warning labels and taxes on unhealthy food products.
• Promote private-sector partnerships that invest in community wellness – not giveaways of high-calorie meals.
• Expand public education and improve access to affordable, nutritious food.
Corporate celebrations should uplift national priorities, not undermine them. Our children deserve food environments that nurture their health and development not normalise overconsumption and poor nutrition.
AFRICKA STEPHENS