Read food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells Nigerians

Nigerians are being urged to make reading food labels a regular habit before purchasing packaged goods, as part of a national campaign to combat the rise of non-communicable diseases. Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), emphasized that understanding food labels is crucial for making healthier dietary choices.

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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.

The 'Read the Food Label Campaign,' launched in Abuja, is a collaborative effort involving NAFDAC, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, the World Health Organization, and the University of Abuja. The initiative aims to empower consumers with the knowledge to interpret nutritional content and safety information on food products, recognizing these labels as vital public health tools.

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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 shared a personal anecdote, explaining that her son's childhood reaction to a food additive inspired her own commitment to checking labels for sugar, sodium, and other nutritional details. She warned that excessive intake of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats is a major driver of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria. Citing World Health Organization data, she noted that non-communicable diseases are responsible for approximately 29% of all deaths in the country, with cardiovascular diseases being the most prevalent.

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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.

The campaign is designed as a long-term public health intervention to foster a culture where consumers actively use nutritional information to guide their food choices. Professor Adeyeye stressed that the ability to understand and apply information from food labels is more critical than ever in addressing the growing burden of diet-related illnesses.

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