NAFDAC DG Urges Nigerians: Prioritise Food Label Reading to Combat Diet-Related Diseases

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has advised Nigerians to make a habit of scrutinizing food labels before purchasing packaged items. She issued a warning that unhealthy dietary choices are significantly contributing to a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the nation.

Adeyeye delivered this counsel on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the 'Read the Food Label Campaign'. This initiative was a collaborative effort between NAFDAC, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Abuja, and other development partners. She clarified that the campaign's primary goal is to equip consumers with the necessary understanding of food labels, enabling them to make healthier dietary choices amidst the increasing prevalence of illnesses linked to diet.

“Today marks another significant milestone in our 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 stated, highlighting the importance of the new drive.

The NAFDAC boss emphasized that food labels are more than just regulatory necessities; they serve as vital public health instruments, offering consumers crucial details regarding the nutritional content and safety of food products. “Reading food labels should become a shared responsibility. Everyone who purchases food should make it a habit to read food labels before making a purchase,” Adeyeye asserted.

She shared a personal anecdote, recalling how an adverse reaction experienced by her son to a food additive during his childhood inspired her to diligently check food labels whenever she shopped. “My son reacted to a food additive when he was very young. That experience made me develop the habit of reading food labels because I wanted to ensure my family stayed healthy. Whenever I go shopping, I immediately check the sugar content, sodium level and other nutritional information,” she recounted.

Adeyeye cautioned that excessive consumption of foods rich in salt, sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats has substantially fueled the rising rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other NCDs in Nigeria. Citing statistics from the World Health Organization, she noted that NCDs are responsible for approximately 29 percent of all fatalities in Nigeria, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for the largest proportion. “The ability of consumers to understand, interpret and apply information on food labels has never been more important,” she added.

The 'Read the Food Label Campaign' is envisioned as a long-term public health intervention, structured to embed a culture of reading food labels and utilizing nutritional information to make healthier dietary choices.

Also speaking at the gathering, Professor Dike Ojji, the Lead Investigator on Cardiovascular Health at the University of Abuja, highlighted that unhealthy diets have emerged as a significant contributor to cardiovascular diseases and other chronic ailments in Nigeria. He acknowledged the university's pivotal role in generating research evidence that has shaped national policies concerning 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 affirmed. He further pledged the institution's ongoing support for initiatives aimed at enhancing public awareness and encouraging healthier food choices among Nigerians.

In his remarks, Professor Salisu Maiwada, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, committed the society's full backing for the initiative. He assured that nutrition professionals nationwide would spearhead awareness campaigns in 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. We will also dedicate part of our annual conference in September to promoting the campaign,” Maiwada declared.

Abayomi Sarumi, representing CAPPA, lauded the campaign as a timely intervention that would boost nutrition literacy and motivate consumers to adopt healthier dietary decisions. Nigeria is grappling with an escalating burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases, as evolving lifestyles and increased intake of ultra-processed foods continue to drive cases of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Public health experts have consistently advocated for stricter food labelling regulations and comprehensive consumer education to empower Nigerians with the knowledge to understand the nutritional content of packaged foods before making purchases. The 'Read the Food Label Campaign' forms a crucial part of NAFDAC’s broader strategy to enhance nutrition literacy, foster healthier eating habits, and bolster national efforts to mitigate the burden of non-communicable diseases through informed consumer choices.