…Laments spike in non-communicable diseases in Nigeria

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on Nigerians to read food labels before purchasing packaged foods, pay special attention to sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and trans fat content on the package, and identify allergens and other ingredients of concern.

She warned that unhealthy diets are fueling the rise in non-communicable diseases across the country.

Speaking at the launch of the Read the Food Label Campaign, organised by the agency in collaboration with the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) the World Health Organization, the University of Abuja and other development partners in Abuja, Adeyeye stated that advancements in food science and technology have made it possible to produce foods that satisfy a wide range of consumer preferences, however, with numerous products competing for attention on supermarket shelves, consumers often struggle to understand exactly what they are purchasing and consuming.

She lamented that the consumption of foods high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats has contributed significantly to the increasing prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

Adeyeye stated that in an increasingly pressured food environment characterized by urbanization, food marketing, and the growing availability of packaged and ultra-processed foods, consumers are confronted with an unprecedented number of food choices every day, adding that food labels help consumers understand, and that has been well said at this gathering.

Adeyeye emphasized that food labels are more than regulatory requirements or information panels displayed on food packages, as they are powerful public health tools that communicate vital health, safety, and nutritional information that enables consumers to hunt, prepare, store, and consume foods safely.

She said, ‘ It remains one of the most important and direct means of communication between manufacturers and consumers, helping and making them well-informed in terms of their purchases.The urgency of this campaign is understood by the increasing levels of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

” According to the World Health Organization‘s 2018 communication, it said non-communicable diseases for Nigeria—the profile for Nigeria—accounted for approximately 29 percent. Cardiovascular diseases were responsible for 11% of these deaths, cancers accounted for 4%, chronic respiratory diseases for 2%, and diabetes for 1%. So, non-communicable diseases account for about 29% of all deaths in our country, and many of these deaths can be traced to the consumption of salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, and highly processed foods. All these contribute significantly to this burden”.

The NAFDAC boss pointed out that the ability of consumers to understand, interpret, and apply information on food labels has never been more important, adding that the launch of the campaign marks a significant milestone in collective efforts to protect and promote the health of Nigerians by empowering consumers with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed food choices.

She observed that the ” Read the Food Label” campaign is designed to raise public awareness about the importance of reading and understanding food labels adding that through this initiative, NAFDAC seeks to equip consumers with the knowledge and skills required to read and interpret food labels effectively, thereby empowering individuals and families to make healthier food choices.

Also speaking, Executive Director of CAPPA, Oluwafemi Akinbode lamented that Nigerian consumers are increasingly exposed to aggressively and deceptively marketed ultra-processed food and beverage products, the consumption of which is worsening Nigeria’s non-communicable diseases burden (NCDs).

Akinbode, who was represented by the Associate Director and Healthy Food Policy Manager at CAPPA, Abayomi Sarumi, stated that reading food labels helps consumers identify products that contain high levels of sugar, salt, trans fats, and other nutrients of concern that are risk factors for diet-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stroke, and heart disease.

He noted that the campaign aligns with the organisation’s healthy food policies campaign, which places public health at the centre of Nigeria’s food policy.

He said, “CAPPA welcomes the launch of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) ‘Read the Label’ campaign. It is a timely and important step towards empowering Nigerians to make informed food choices.”We commend NAFDAC for taking proactive measures to improve consumer awareness and promote healthier dietary habits”.

“CAPPA remains committed to working with NAFDAC and other stakeholders to promote healthier food environments and advance policies that safeguard the health and well-being of all Nigerians.”

On his part, the Country Director, Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Dr. Emmanuel Sokpo, said that the Read the Food Label Campaign is a powerful step towards empowering Nigerians with the knowledge and confidence to understand what is in the foods they purchase and consume, enabling them to make healthier and more informed choices for themselves and their families.

Sokpo noted that as Nigeria continues to grapple with the rising burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases, consumer awareness has become more important than ever.

The Executive Director of Resolve to Save Lives, Nigeria, Mrs Nanlop Ogbureke, observed that while food labels contain valuable nutritional information, many consumers still find them difficult to interpret due to technical language, small print, and the complexity of nutritional information adding that as a result, critical information about nutrients of concern such as sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats is often overlooked at the point of purchase.

She noted that the campaign represents a significant milestone in advancing public awareness, consumer protection, and healthier food environments in Nigeria.