Silent Killers On Our Shelves: Why Nigeria Can No Longer Ignore Nutrient Profile Models
By Bukola Olukemi-Odele
Every day, millions of Nigerians make food choices believing they are protecting their families’ health.
Yet behind colourful packaging, catchy slogans and bold nutrition claims often lies a hidden danger, excessive sugar, salt and unhealthy fats that are fuelling a silent public health crisis.
As diet-related diseases continue to rise, the country can no longer afford to leave consumers navigating supermarket shelves without clear, honest information.
Imagine a mother standing before rows of brightly packaged snacks and drinks, each promising vitamins, growth and vitality. Encouraged by attractive branding and reassuring health claims, she reaches for what appears to be the healthier option.
What she cannot easily see is the high sugar content, excessive sodium or unhealthy fats concealed behind the marketing.
This scenario is becoming increasingly common across Nigeria as processed and pre-packaged foods replace traditional, nutrient-rich diets.
While convenience has grown, so too has the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
Globally, NCDs account for nearly three-quarters of all deaths, with millions occurring prematurely among people in their most productive years.
Low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria bear the greatest share of this burden, making urgent action on healthier food environments a national priority.
One practical solution is the adoption of a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) tailored to Nigeria’s food landscape.
An NPM is an evidence-based system that evaluates foods according to their nutritional composition, helping consumers distinguish genuinely healthy products from those containing harmful levels of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.
Unlike complicated nutrition panels tucked away on the back of food packages, an NPM supports simple front-of-pack warning labels that are easy to understand at a glance.
Such labels empower shoppers to make informed choices while encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products by reducing unhealthy ingredients.
The benefits extend beyond consumer awareness.
A robust NPM would also provide government with a clear scientific basis for regulating the marketing of unhealthy foods, particularly those targeted at children. Without such a framework, misleading advertising and aggressive promotion of junk food continue largely unchecked.
For instance, a beverage marketed as rich in Vitamin C may still contain dangerously high levels of added sugar.
An effective Nutrient Profile Model cuts through marketing gimmicks by providing consumers with straightforward nutritional information regardless of literacy level or educational background.
Ultimately, introducing a Nutrient Profile Model is about protecting Nigerians’ right to make informed decisions about what they eat.
It promotes transparency, strengthens accountability within the food industry and creates a healthier environment for future generations.
With diet-related diseases placing increasing pressure on families and the healthcare system, Nigeria has reached a defining moment.
Adopting a nationally appropriate Nutrient Profile Model would be a decisive step towards safeguarding public health and ensuring that healthier choices become easier for every Nigerian.
Bukola Olukemi-Odele is a food scientist and Cardiovascular Health Programme Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
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