Abuja: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched the ‘Read the Food Labels’ campaign, urging consumers to carefully read packaged food labels before purchasing them. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the importance of this initiative at the campaign’s launch event in Abuja, highlighting its potential to combat diet-related non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Prof. Adeyeye stressed that individuals suffering from conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, food allergies, and cardiovascular diseases could significantly benefit from understanding and utilizing food labels. With urbanization on the rise in Nigeria and a shift towards increased consumption of packaged foods, the campaign aims to enhance consumers’ comprehension of food labels.
“Prepackaged foods are becoming a major part of diets, especially in urban areas. Most packaged foods, from minimally processed items like milk to ultra-processed snacks and sugary beverages, have some form of labeling,” Prof. Adeyeye stated. She emphasized that the ability to read and apply information from food labels can directly impact disease prevention and management.
The urgency of this campaign is underscored by the increasing levels of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. “According to the 2018 World Health Organization Non-Communicable Diseases Country Profile for Nigeria, non-communicable diseases accounted for approximately 29 percent of all deaths in the country,” Prof. Adeyeye noted. She highlighted that cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are major contributors to these statistics.
The director-general identified the excessive consumption of salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans-fats, and highly processed foods as significant factors in the growing health burden. “Food labels help consumers understand what is in their food, compare products, and make informed decisions that support healthier dietary practices,” she explained.
She further pointed out that as Nigeria faces rising rates of diet-related diseases, food label literacy is essential for public health. “An informed consumer is empowered to make healthier choices, avoid misleading claims, and demand greater transparency from manufacturers,” Prof. Adeyeye added.
Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), supported the campaign, describing it as a crucial step towards empowering Nigerians in making informed food choices. He commended NAFDAC’s proactive measures to enhance consumer awareness and promote healthier dietary habits.
Dr. Eva Edwards, NAFDAC Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, urged consumers to pay attention to ingredient lists, allergen declarations, nutritional information, and essential dates like production, best before, and expiry dates. This information can significantly influence health and safety decisions.