NAFDAC Urges Nigerians to Read Food Labels for Health

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) launched a campaign in Abuja on Friday, urging Nigerians to read food labels before purchasing food products. Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, stated that food labels are powerful public health tools that help consumers make informed dietary decisions.

She highlighted the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stroke, and heart disease, which the World Health Organization estimates account for 29% of deaths in the country. Adeyeye stressed the need for Nigerians to pay close attention to ingredients and nutritional information, particularly levels of sugar, salt, saturated fat, and trans fat in packaged foods.

The campaign aims to promote food label literacy, especially among vulnerable groups with low literacy levels. NAFDAC is already working with food manufacturers to gradually reduce salt levels in processed foods and strengthen compliance with food label regulations.