The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a nationwide campaign urging Nigerians to pay closer attention to the nutritional information displayed on packaged food products.
NAFDAC described informed food choices as a crucial step in tackling the growing burden of diet-related illnesses.
The initiative, unveiled in Abuja on Friday under the “Read the Food Label Campaign,” seeks to improve public understanding of food labels and encourage consumers to consider nutritional content before purchasing packaged foods.
The campaign is being implemented in partnership with the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Abuja, and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch on Friday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said many Nigerians unknowingly consume excessive amounts of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats because they rarely examine the information provided on product packaging.
She explained that food labels offer consumers essential details about ingredients, nutritional value and product safety, stressing that understanding such information enables families to make healthier dietary decisions.
According to Adeyeye, the increasing consumption of processed foods rich in sodium, sugar, saturated fats and trans fats has become a major contributor to the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disorders.
She noted that adopting the simple habit of checking nutritional information before buying packaged foods could significantly reduce health risks associated with poor diets.
Sharing a personal experience, the NAFDAC chief recalled that an adverse reaction suffered by one of her children to a food additive several years ago changed her shopping habits permanently.
She said the incident prompted her to begin carefully reviewing ingredient lists and nutritional information on every packaged food item, a practice she believes every consumer should adopt.
Adeyeye also referenced global health statistics indicating that non-communicable diseases account for a significant proportion of deaths in Nigeria, with heart-related illnesses remaining the leading cause within that category.
She described the newly introduced campaign as a long-term behavioural change initiative aimed at building a culture where consumers routinely examine food labels before making purchasing decisions.
Also speaking, cardiovascular health researcher at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dike Ojji, said scientific evidence continues to show a strong relationship between unhealthy eating patterns and the rising incidence of chronic diseases across the country.
Ojji explained that researchers at the institution have contributed to studies that shaped Nigeria’s food nutrition policies, including work on nutrient profiling and front-of-pack food labelling, adding that the university would continue supporting evidence-based interventions designed to improve public health.
The Nutrition Society of Nigeria also pledged support for the campaign, with its President, Prof. Salisu Maiwada, announcing plans to mobilise nutrition professionals nationwide to expand awareness at community level.
Maiwada said members of the society, who are spread across local government areas, schools and communities, would promote the campaign through grassroots sensitisation programmes and professional engagements, including the society’s forthcoming annual conference.
Representing Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Abayomi Sarumidescribed the initiative as a timely response to Nigeria’s growing nutrition challenges, noting that improved public understanding of food labels would help consumers make healthier dietary choices and reduce preventable illnesses.
Health experts have repeatedly warned that changing lifestyles, increased reliance on highly processed foods and poor nutrition awareness are contributing to the steady rise in non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
The food label awareness campaign forms part of ongoing efforts by NAFDAC and its partners to strengthen consumer education, encourage healthier eating habits and reduce the country’s disease burden through informed food choices.
