Read food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells Nigerians

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of reading food labels before purchasing packaged foods, warning that unhealthy diets are driving a rise in non-communicable diseases across the country.

Adeyeye gave the advice on Friday in Abuja at the launch of the Read the Food Label Campaign, organised by NAFDAC in collaboration with the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, the World Health Organization, the University of Abuja and other development partners.

She said the campaign was aimed at empowering consumers with the knowledge needed to understand food labels and make healthier food choices amid the growing burden of diet-related illnesses.

“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 said.

According to the NAFDAC boss, food labels are not merely regulatory requirements but important public health tools that provide consumers with critical information about 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 said.

She recounted how a childhood reaction by her son to a food additive inspired her to develop the habit of checking food labels whenever she shops.

“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 said.

Adeyeye warned that excessive 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.

Citing data from the World Health Organization, she said non-communicable diseases account for about 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria, with cardiovascular diseases responsible for the largest share.

“The ability of consumers to understand, interpret and apply information on food labels has never been more important,” she added.

She explained that the Read the Food Label Campaign is a long-term public health intervention designed to institutionalise a culture of reading food labels and using nutritional information to make healthier dietary choices.

Speaking at the event, the Lead Investigator on Cardiovascular Health at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dike Ojji, said unhealthy diets have become a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illnesses in Nigeria.

He noted that the university has played a leading role in generating research evidence that informed 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 added that the institution would continue to support efforts aimed at improving public awareness and promoting healthier food choices among Nigerians.

Also speaking, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Salisu Maiwada, pledged the society’s support for the initiative, saying nutrition professionals across the country would drive 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 said.

The representative of CAPPA, Abayomi Sarumi, described the campaign as a timely intervention that would improve nutrition literacy and encourage consumers to make healthier dietary decisions

Nigeria is facing a growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases as changing lifestyles and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods continue to fuel cases of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Public health experts have consistently advocated stronger food labelling regulations and consumer education to enable Nigerians understand the nutritional content of packaged foods before purchase.

The Read the Food Label Campaign is part of NAFDAC’s broader strategy to improve nutrition literacy, encourage healthier eating habits and support national efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases through informed consumer choices.