By Robert Egbe
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a nationwide “Read the Food Label” campaign aimed at encouraging Nigerians to understand the nutritional information on packaged foods before purchasing, as part of efforts to curb Nigeria’s growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The campaign, unveiled in Abuja on Friday, is being implemented with the cooperation of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the University of Abuja, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and other development partners.
Speaking at the launch, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described food labels as powerful public health tools that provide consumers with vital information about the safety and nutritional quality of the foods they consume.
She said the campaign seeks to institutionalise a culture of reading food labels to help Nigerians make healthier dietary choices and reduce the risk of diseases linked to poor nutrition.
“Reading food labels should become a shared responsibility,” Adeyeye said. “Everyone who purchases food from supermarkets or markets should make it a habit to read food labels before making a purchase.”
Recalling a personal experience, the NAFDAC boss said she developed the habit of reading food labels after her son reacted to a food additive while they lived in the United States.
“Whenever I go shopping, I immediately check the food label. I look at the sugar content, the sodium level and other nutritional information because food labels communicate essential health, safety and nutritional information that enables consumers to purchase, prepare, store and consume food safely,” she said.
According to her, the campaign comes at a critical time as Nigeria grapples with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases fuelled by unhealthy diets and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Citing WHO statistics, Adeyeye said non-communicable diseases account for about 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria, with cardiovascular diseases responsible for 11 per cent, cancers four per cent, chronic respiratory diseases two per cent and diabetes one per cent.
She noted that many of these illnesses are associated with excessive consumption of salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans fats and highly processed foods.
“In today’s increasingly complex food environment, consumers are confronted with an overwhelming number of food choices. The ability to understand and apply information on food labels has therefore never been more important,” she said.
She added that the campaign forms part of NAFDAC’s broader efforts to improve nutrition literacy, promote healthier living and sustain behavioural change among Nigerians.
The WHO endorsed the initiative.
Represented by Technical Officer for Nutrition, Dr Pinda Wakama, WHO Country Representative Dr Pavel Ursu said Nigeria’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases underscored the need for nationwide interventions that empower people to make healthier food choices.
He described the “Read the Food Label” campaign as both timely and strategic, saying it would improve nutrition literacy and help consumers better understand the nutritional information provided on packaged foods.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, welcomed the initiative, saying it was a timely intervention that would empower consumers to make informed food choices.
Represented by CAPPA’s Associate Director and Healthy Food Policy Manager, Abayomi Sarumi, Oluwafemi said aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods and beverages had made consumer awareness increasingly important.
“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,” he said.
“Reading food labels helps consumers identify products that contain high levels of sugar, salt, trans fats and other nutrients of concern that increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stroke and heart disease.”
He reaffirmed CAPPA’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote healthier food environments.
Also speaking, Dr Emmanuel Sokpo, Country Director of the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), stated that the campaign would help foster a culture of informed decision-making and promote healthier eating habits.
He described it as “a critical step towards creating a food environment where people are empowered with the information they need to make healthier choices, contributing to stronger food systems and improved health outcomes for all Nigerians.”
The Executive Director of Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) Nigeria, Mrs Nanlop Ogbureke, stated that the initiative would enhance consumer protection by enabling Nigerians to understand the nutritional content of packaged foods.
She noted that although food labels contain valuable health information, many consumers still struggle to interpret them because of technical language, small print and complex nutritional information.
“As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising diet-related diseases, consumer awareness has become more important than ever,” she said.
The Lead Investigator on Cardiovascular Health at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dike Ojji, said unhealthy diets have become a major driver of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illnesses in Nigeria.
He noted that the university’s research had contributed significantly to the development of national policies on nutrient profiling and front-of-pack food labelling.
“The University of Abuja has been at the forefront of ensuring proper food labelling in Nigeria. Our research findings have been highly valuable in developing national policies on nutrient profiling and front-of-pack food labelling,” Ojji said.
He pledged the institution’s continued support for efforts aimed at improving nutrition awareness and healthier food choices.
Similarly, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Salisu Maiwada, said nutrition professionals across the country would take the campaign to schools, communities and local government areas.
“We have members in every local government area of Nigeria. We are present in schools and communities, and we will take this campaign to every part of the country,” he said.
Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the campaign would encourage Nigerians to pay greater attention to food labels, improve dietary habits and contribute to reducing the country’s growing burden of diet-related illnesses.
