NAFDAC DG urges Nigerians to read food labels before buying and eating

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on Nigerians to read food labels before buying packaged foods. The aim is to help consumers make healthier choices and lower the risk of non‑communicable diseases.

At the launch of the Read the Food Label Campaign in Abuja on Friday, NAFDAC Director‑General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye explained that labels contain essential information about a product’s nutrition and safety. She urged consumers to consult this information before making a purchase.

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

Prof. Adeyeye highlighted that the growing consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fats and trans fats is driving the increase in hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and other diet‑related illnesses in Nigeria.

The campaign, organised in partnership with development partners, seeks to improve nutrition literacy and empower people to make informed food choices.

“Reading food labels should become a routine practice for all consumers, stressing that better awareness of nutritional information would support efforts to reduce the burden of non‑communicable diseases in the country,” she added.