NAFDAC Urges Nigerians to Check Food Labels for Safety

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to read food labels before buying packaged food to make safer and healthier choices. This advice was shared in the first episode of its #NAFDACExplains series on its official X handle.

Abubakar Umar, a food safety expert in NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, emphasized that consumers should not only focus on brand, packaging, or price but should prioritize the food label. He advised checking the date marking to ensure the product is within its shelf life, reading the ingredient list for allergens or dietary restrictions, and reviewing the nutrition information panel for details on sugar, salt, fat, and protein.

Additionally, Umar highlighted the importance of confirming the NAFDAC registration number, which indicates that the product has undergone the necessary registration process. NAFDAC concluded by stating that spending a few seconds reading food labels can significantly aid consumers in making informed decisions.