The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has urged Nigerians to make reading food labels a routine habit, warning that poor dietary choices are contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.
Adeyeye made the call on Friday in Abuja at the launch of the Read the Food Label Campaign, organised by NAFDAC in partnership with the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Abuja and other stakeholders.
She said the initiative is designed to help consumers understand food labels and make healthier choices as cases of diet-related illnesses continue to rise.
“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.
The NAFDAC boss described food labels as vital public health tools rather than mere regulatory requirements, noting that they provide essential information on nutritional content and product safety.
“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 recalled that her commitment to checking food labels began after her son developed a reaction to a food additive during childhood.
“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 intake of foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fats and trans fats is fuelling the rise in hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
Quoting World Health Organization data, she noted that non-communicable diseases account for about 29 per cent of deaths in the country, with cardiovascular conditions responsible for the highest proportion.
“The ability of consumers to understand, interpret and apply information on food labels has never been more important,” she added.
She explained that the campaign forms part of a broader effort to promote nutrition literacy and encourage healthier eating habits nationwide.
Also speaking, the Lead Investigator on Cardiovascular Health at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dike Ojji, said unhealthy diets have become a major driver of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illnesses in Nigeria.
He noted that the university’s research has helped shape 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.
The President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Salisu Maiwada, pledged the society’s support for the initiative, promising to extend awareness campaigns to 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,” he said.
CAPPA representative Abayomi Sarumi described the initiative as a timely intervention that would boost nutrition awareness and help consumers make healthier food choices.
The campaign is part of NAFDAC’s wider strategy to tackle the growing prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases by promoting informed consumer decisions and healthier lifestyles.
