NAFDAC’s sodium cut regulation key to reducing NCDs burden — Experts

Public health and nutrition experts have thrown their weight behind the regulation of sodium in processed and packaged foods, saying excessive salt consumption is fuelling the rise of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

They explained that high sodium intake may predispose individuals to hypertension, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions, noting that many Nigerians unknowingly exceed recommended daily limits through processed foods and added salt in home-cooked meals.

The experts, who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, said reducing sodium content in foods could significantly lower disease risk and improve Nigerians’ health outcomes.

They were reacting to a new regulation, “Reduction of Sodium in Pre-Packaged Foods Regulations 2026”, proposed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to curb sodium intake among Nigerians.

The regulation will set maximum sodium limits for selected food categories, mandate clear labelling of sodium content, and encourage gradual reformulation of products by manufacturers.

The policy also includes a phased reduction strategy, beginning with a 15 per cent cut in sodium levels, which aligns with the World Health Organisation global target of a 30 per cent reduction in population sodium intake by 2030.

PUNCH Healthwise earlier reported that the Federal Government, in March 2025, launched the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction to prevent the adverse health consequences of excessive sodium intake.

The guideline, according to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, introduced clear limits on sodium content in processed and packaged foods.

Despite the guideline, experts say Nigerians still consume high quantities of salt and sodium-rich foods.

The World Health Organisation, in a report, noted that dietary salt (sodium chloride) intake is a key determinant of blood pressure levels, hypertension and overall cardiovascular risk.

WHO recommends a maximum salt intake of less than 2,000mg or 5g per day for an individual.

Speaking on the planned regulation, a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Folu Olatona, said excessive sodium intake remains one of the most silent yet aggressive drivers of NCDs in Nigeria.

Citing public health data, she said hypertension now affects approximately 30 to 35 per cent of Nigerian adults.

“This is a staggering figure that represents millions of lives at risk of stroke, heart failure and kidney disease,” Olatona said.

To explain sodium’s effect on the body, the nutritionist said it should be understood as a water magnet.

“In a healthy body, sodium helps maintain fluid balance. However, when you consume too much, the extra sodium enters your bloodstream and pulls water into your blood vessels. The extra volume increases the pressure against your artery walls—much like turning up the water pressure in a garden hose to a level the hose wasn’t built to handle. Over time, this ‘over-stretching’ damages the arteries and forces the heart to work dangerously hard,” she said.

Olatona noted that many Nigerians do not consume enough potassium, found in fruits and vegetables such as bananas, avocados and spinach, which helps counter sodium’s effects.

She said, “While sodium raises blood pressure, potassium helps reduce it by relaxing vessel walls and helping the kidneys flush out excess salt. The current crisis is as much about excess sodium as it is about potassium deficiency, which is called the ‘potassium gap’.”

The don said the proposed regulation would help reduce diet-related illnesses.

“The proposed sodium limits by NAFDAC are a monumental step forward. Since hypertension is a primary precursor to more fatal NCDs like cardiovascular disease, cutting salt at the source, the factory, is one of the most cost-effective ‘best buys’ in public health,” she said.

However, Olatona said regulation alone would not be sufficient without lifestyle changes.

“The regulation is not a silver bullet. While it addresses the ‘hidden salt’ in bread, noodles and canned goods, we must also address the behavioural habits that drive high blood pressure,” she said.

According to her, many Nigerians engage in habits that undermine heart health, including adding extra table salt to meals already prepared with high-sodium bouillon cubes.

She also listed heavy reliance on seasoning cubes, sedentary lifestyles and frequent consumption of street snacks where sodium is used as a flavour enhancer and preservative.

“Regulation creates a healthier default. By lowering the sodium content in processed foods, the government protects the consumer even if the consumer does not change their behaviour. It is a passive health benefit,” the expert said.

Olatona added that while regulation controls what is sold in supermarkets, it does not address cooking practices in homes and informal food markets.

“Many Nigerians still prepare their own meals or eat at bukas, where salt and seasoning are used liberally. Therefore, the regulation can limit exposure, but to change habits, we need to combine these limits with massive public health education that targets behavioural change,” she said.

She also advocated home gardening to improve potassium intake and reduce dependence on processed seasonings.

Other measures, she said, include making fresh produce more affordable through targeted subsidies and introducing clear “high in salt” warning labels to guide consumers.

On his part, a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, James Oloyede, said the proposed regulation would help reduce the burden of NCDs in Nigeria.

“Without any doubt, there is going to be a positive impact, because the rate of hypertension in Nigeria is rising, including among young adults and teenagers. Hypertension is now affecting young adults because of this excess,” he said.

Oloyede added that children are increasingly exposed to processed foods high in sodium.

“With the regulation by NAFDAC, the importation of food that does not meet the criteria will be rejected. And of course, although we know enforcement in Nigeria can be challenging, if regulators do their work as expected, and health workers also continue to educate caregivers, mothers and the general public on the importance of a low-sodium diet, we can make progress,” he said.

Oloyede, a former Director of Nutrition Services in Osun State, said food environment regulation would influence dietary choices.

“People buy what is available, and if the food environment is controlled, they will be influenced to adopt low-sodium diets. Also, manufacturers outside the country, once they know Nigeria has strict regulations, will comply,” he said.