American Diabetes Association and Goya Foods Inc. Team Up to Support Diabetes Awareness and Outreach in the Latino Community
Approximately 2.5 million Hispanic/Latino Americans over the age of 20 have diabetes and are at increased risk for serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputations.
12/09/07 The American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced that Goya Foods, Inc. has signed on as a Program Sponsor to support ADA's Latino outreach program, Por Tu Familia. Por Tu Familia is ADA's community-based outreach campaign that brings information about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of a healthy lifestyle to the Latino community.
As a Program Sponsor, Goya Foods, Inc. will support ADA's mission to prevent the onset of diabetes within the Hispanic/Latino community and help those who are already living with the disease. Ways in which Goya will support ADA's Por Tu Familia program will include leveraging Goya's channels of distribution to provide Hispanic/Latino audiences with important diabetes information from the ADA, including information about making better food choices. One important aspect of this sponsorship will involve the development of a new "Latino Recipe of the Week," section on ADA's web site, diabetes.org/latinos and http://www.portufamilia.org, which will provide healthy recipe options that cater to the Latino cuisine.
"Food plays an important role in the Hispanic/Latino culture, and food also plays an important role in the prevention and management of diabetes," said Lorena Drago, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, a certified diabetes educator and nutritionist at Lincoln Hospital in New York and national volunteer of ADA's Por Tu Familia Latino Initiative. "Many of the behaviors needed to prevent type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications -- behaviors such as meal planning and physical activity -- are shaped by an individual's culture and values. Goya's support of ADA's Por Tu Familia program will help ADA expand the cultural relevance and reach of our messages."
Approximately 2.5 million Hispanic/Latino Americans over the age of 20 have diabetes and are at increased risk for serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputations. If present trends continue, one in two minorities born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime.
"Goya Foods is well-aware of the vital role proper nutrition plays in maintaining healthy families and communities and is delighted to sponsor the Por Tu Familia program. We hope that the Latino community will incorporate the great nutritional options and lifestyle choices that are available through this program in order to combat this disease," stated Goya Foods President, Robert Unanue.
The American Diabetes Association wants people to know that it is possible to enjoy Latin food that is both delicious and good for you. "By making simple changes to ingredients and cooking methods, people can keep the flavors of Latin cuisine without missing any of the traditional tastes families have shared for years," added Drago.
