As Nigeria faces a growing wave of diet-related illnesses, health experts are calling on food manufacturers to adopt clear and visible nutrition warnings on the front of product packages to help consumers make healthier choices.
According to public health advocates, vital information about high levels of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats is often hidden in small prints at the back of food packages, making it difficult for shoppers to easily understand what they are consuming.
They argue that the adoption of Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) will enable consumers to quickly identify unhealthy products and reduce the risk of diet-related diseases.
Across supermarkets and open markets in Nigeria, packaged foods compete for consumer attention through branding and advertising. However, nutrition information panels are usually located at the back or sides of packages, where they often go unnoticed by many shoppers who make purchasing decisions based primarily on marketing claims.
Health professionals warn that this communication gap has contributed significantly to the rising burden of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as Diabetes, Hypertension, Stroke, and Cardiovascular disease.
They say excessive consumption of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats remains a major risk factor for these conditions, yet consumers are not always fully informed about the nutritional content of the foods they buy.
Experts stress that manufacturers must move beyond marketing claims such as “light,” “healthy,” or “fortified” and prioritise transparency in food labelling. With the official adoption of FOPL in July 2025, food producers are expected to display clear and evidence-based nutrition warnings prominently on the front of their products.
Regulatory agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Pre-packaged Food (Labelling) Regulations 2022 and emerging FOPL guidelines.
Public health campaigners say the introduction of front-of-pack labels will not only inform consumers but also encourage food manufacturers to reformulate their products.
Companies seeking to avoid prominent warning labels indicating high levels of sugar, salt or saturated fats are expected to reduce harmful ingredients and improve the nutritional quality of their products.
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) emphasised that front labels should feature bold warnings such as “High in Sugar” or use colour-coded systems that allow shoppers to instantly understand potential health risks.
According to the organisation, such clarity is especially important for busy consumers, individuals with limited literacy, or those without formal nutrition education.
CAPPA Director Akinbode Oluwafemi warned that ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats are contributing significantly to conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and certain cancers.
He described the situation as a silent struggle between profit-driven corporate interests and public health priorities, urging stronger government regulations to ensure full disclosure of sugar and salt content beyond fine print on product labels.
Similarly, Technical Adviser at the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Jerome Mafeni, stressed that stronger regulatory actions are needed to achieve nutrition-related targets under the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
He noted that front-of-pack warning labels are far more effective than traditional back-of-pack nutrition tables, which many consumers find difficult to interpret.
Public health advocate Bukola Olukemi Odele also highlighted the increasing burden of NCDs in Nigeria, describing front-of-pack labelling and mandatory salt reduction targets as cost-effective measures to protect public health.
“With 6.2 million Nigerians living with hypertension, ‘silent killer’ diseases are increasing. FOPL is a crucial intervention to help consumers make healthier choices and reduce the risk of chronic illnesses,” she said.
However, some manufacturers say practical challenges still exist. A food producer, Titi Bidwell, acknowledged that although her products carry front-of-pack labels, the warnings are not always very bold due to packaging space constraints.
“I agree with producers complying with FOPL, but most of us don’t do the right thing for different reasons. While some want to protect their brands, others seek more patronage, profits, and reputation,” she said.
As Nigeria moves towards fully implementing front-of-pack labelling policies in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization, stakeholders are calling for broader reforms in the food sector.
These include mandatory sodium reduction targets for packaged foods, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy products, fiscal measures such as taxes on high-sugar and high-salt foods, and stronger food safety regulations.
Experts say the success of front-of-pack labelling will ultimately depend on full compliance by manufacturers and effective enforcement by regulators.
They maintain that clear front labels represent a major step toward fairness and transparency, ensuring that every Nigerian—regardless of education level—can easily understand the health implications of their food choices.
In a country where health and productivity are closely linked, stakeholders believe that simple changes such as visible nutrition warnings could lead to smarter consumer decisions, fewer diet-related diseases and a healthier population.
