By Omoyeni Ojeifo
To combat the rising burden of non-communicable diseases linked to the consumption of ultra-processed foods, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched its “Read Your Label” campaign.
Persecondnews correspondent reports that the campaign was officially launched on Friday in Abuja to encourage Nigerians to make healthier food choices by reading and understanding information on packaged food labels.
Speaking at the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by Dr. Funmilayo Adébítè, said the initiative supports the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce non-communicable diseases through healthier diets.
“Cardiovascular diseases, particularly hypertension and diabetes, remain a major public health challenge in Nigeria. We want to reduce the amount of salt, sugar and trans fats people consume, and reading food labels is an important step towards achieving that,” he said.
The minister urged Nigerians to pay attention to the nutritional information displayed on packaged foods before buying or consuming them.
“Anyone buying packaged food should look at the label to ensure they are consuming something that is healthy. We must take this message to our families, our communities and across our social media platforms.”
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the campaign is designed to empower consumers to make informed food choices through a better understanding of food labels.
“Through this initiative, NAFDAC seeks to equip consumers with the knowledge and skills required to read and interpret food labels effectively,” she said.
Adeyeye said food labels are more than regulatory requirements, describing them as important public health tools.
“Food labels are more than regulatory requirements. They are powerful public health tools that communicate vital health, safety and nutritional information, enabling consumers to make informed food choices.”
Representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Director and Head of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Nuhu Adamu Kilishi, said the ministry regards the campaign as an important complement to its food and nutrition objectives.
“Food and nutrition are at the heart of our mandate. That is why the ministry considers this initiative important in helping Nigerians make informed and healthier food choices.”
A World Health Organization (WHO) official, speaking on behalf of the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, said the campaign supports ongoing efforts to improve public health through healthier diets and informed consumer choices.
“This campaign aligns closely with the WHO’s global strategy for non-communicable disease prevention, including salt reduction, improved food labelling and the promotion of healthier diets,” he said.
The President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Prof. Salisu Maiwada Abubakar, pledged the society’s support for the campaign, saying it would mobilise its members to promote food label awareness across communities.
“We have already constituted a team to support the campaign. We will take the message to schools, communities and our conferences to ensure more Nigerians understand the importance of reading food labels.”
Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at NAFDAC, Dr. Eva Edwards, said the campaign is aimed at helping consumers make informed decisions by understanding the information provided on packaged foods.
“We want consumers to develop the habit of checking the list of ingredients, allergy declarations, nutritional information, production dates, best-before or expiry dates, storage conditions and other essential information that can influence their health and safety,” he said.
She said NAFDAC would sustain the campaign through nationwide media campaigns, stakeholder engagement, community outreach and educational activities to make reading food labels a culture among Nigerians.
The event attracted representatives of government agencies, development partners, food sector stakeholders, academia and civil society organisations.