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By Merit Ibe
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised concerns over the growing health risks associated with excessive salt consumption in Nigeria, calling on manufacturers to reformulate products through increased transparency.
Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, made this known at a one-day training titled “Salt Reduction and Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) in Nigeria.”
The training, supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), aimed to equip journalists with the tools to effectively report on food policies that promote healthier diets.
Oluwafemi lamented that many food corporations deploy tactics that encourage increased consumption of ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. He said these practices are contributing significantly to the rise in hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and certain cancers, which together account for about 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria.
He described the situation as a silent struggle for control of the food system, pitting profit-driven corporate interests against public health concerns. According to him, the media plays a critical role in shaping public understanding and influencing policy outcomes through responsible reporting.
Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL), he explained, involves simplified nutrition information displayed on the front of food packaging to help consumers make quick, healthier choices, while also encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products through increased transparency.
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CAPPA has repeatedly called on the government to require manufacturers to disclose accurate salt (and sugar) levels in their products so consumers can make informed choices. This includes pushing for regulation that goes beyond fine print.
Industries are expected to encourage or compel product reformulation so that processed foods have lower sodium content, especially in high-salt categories like bouillon cubes, snacks, breads, and instant noodles.
The association emphasized that food and beverage companies’ aggressive marketing of high-salt ultra-processed foods undermines public health and weakens existing policies.
Speaking on “FOPL Research and Design: The Pathway to a People-Driven FOPL Policy,” Dr Jerome Mafeni said achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals on nutrition and NCD reduction requires integrated regulatory policies and stronger intersectoral collaboration. He noted that diets high in salt, sugar and saturated fats are major risk factors for NCDs, adding that front-of-pack warning labels are more effective than back-of-pack information, which many consumers find difficult to understand.
Dr Mafeni advocated a comprehensive policy approach that includes mandatory sodium targets for packaged foods, front-of-pack warning labels, restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods, public food procurement policies and fiscal measures such as taxes on high-sodium and high-sugar products.
Also speaking, Bukola Olukemi Odele highlighted that NCDs such as hypertension, stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are responsible for a growing share of deaths and disabilities in Nigeria. She cited statistics showing that NCDs account for 29 per cent of deaths, with 11 per cent linked to cardiovascular diseases, while about 27 per cent of Nigerian adults are overweight or obese.
Odele stressed that reducing sodium intake by 30 per cent could save up to 1.6 million lives globally each year. She described front-of-pack labelling and mandatory salt targets as cost-effective, life-saving public health measures, urging strong support for policies that promote healthier food environments and protect future generations.
Many food companies hide salt/sugar info on back labels, which makes it hard for people to make healthy choices. CAPPA wants large, easy-to-read warning labels that clearly show when a product is high in salt/sugar/fat.
