How Warning Labels Could Shield Nigerians From Toxic Diets
By Humphrey Ukeaja
Picture a bustling Nigerian market with rows of brightly coloured food packages clamouring for your attention.
From small kiosks to sprawling supermarkets, shelves are lined with an enticing array of products.
Yet beneath the glossy wrappings lurks a dangerous truth: many of these foods are laden with excessive sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, silently fuelling Nigeria’s mounting health crisis.
In the absence of clear and compulsory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL), millions of consumers are deprived of the basic right to make informed dietary choices.
Misled by deceptive marketing, they unknowingly consume more junk food, accelerating the surge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for nearly 30% of annual deaths in Nigeria.
A recent report, Junk on Our Plates, published by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), brings this issue into sharp focus.
The report, which surveyed seven Nigerian states, exposes the aggressive tactics employed by food and beverage companies to market unhealthy products often under false pretences.
Some sugary yoghurts, for instance, are labelled “not sugary,” while certain seasoning products in northern Nigeria disguise their high sodium content beneath culturally appealing messaging.
This lack of transparency denies Nigerians the ability to make sound food choices, deepening their exposure to preventable illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
The rise in NCDs is a global concern, and Nigeria is no exception.
Heavily processed foods, often promoted through persuasive advertising and prime shelf placement, are a major culprit.
Without mandatory warning labels to alert consumers, unhealthy choices are normalised, setting in motion a cycle of chronic illness that weighs heavily on families and overstretched healthcare systems.
But all hope is not lost.
International experience offers a blueprint for change. In Chile, for example, the introduction of bold, black octagonal warning labels on products high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and trans fats led to a major shift.
Consumers became more aware, manufacturers reformulated products, and sales of sugary drinks dropped by nearly 24% within a year.
Mexico and Peru have implemented similar systems, recording significant changes in both consumer habits and industry behaviour.
In Peru, manufacturers rebranded and reformulated their products to comply with labelling regulations, making them healthier.
Meanwhile in Canada, although not using traditional warning labels, high-visibility nutrition symbols alert consumers to excessive sugar, salt, and fat thereby, helping them make smarter choices.
South Africa is also progressing, with draft regulations for front-of-pack warnings backed by research and growing public support.
These global examples demonstrate a common truth: effective food labelling not only reduces harmful consumption but also spurs industry accountability and protects public health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has consistently endorsed front-of-pack warning labels as one of the most cost-effective strategies for combating diet-related NCDs.
In its 2020 guidance, the WHO advocated for simple, interpretive labelling systems such as visible warnings and icons over complex numeric formats that many consumers struggle to understand.
Such labels empower individuals to make healthier decisions and also help reduce health disparities, particularly among lower-income groups who are disproportionately targeted by junk food marketing.
For Nigeria, adopting mandatory FOPWLs is more than a consumer rights issue. It is a matter of national health. A well-designed, standardised labelling system would enable citizens to make better dietary choices, curb junk food consumption, and ease the growing burden of NCDs.
It is a proactive step towards reversing an alarming trend and safeguarding the health of future generations.
The Nigerian government must now act with urgency: enact clear regulations requiring front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats.
These labels should be prominent, easy to understand, and consistent across brands.
Equally important are public education campaigns to help consumers interpret the labels and understand the risks associated with poor nutrition.
Manufacturers, too, must be compelled to reformulate their products to reduce harmful ingredients and align with national public health objectives.
In the end, embracing transparent and effective warning labelling policies is essential to building a healthier Nigeria, one where informed choices prevail over misleading packaging, and the nation’s well-being takes precedence over short-term profit.
Humphrey Ukeaja is the Industry Monitoring Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
