…Journalists Trained to Spotlight Salt Reduction, Food Labelling, and Corporate Influence on Diets
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised fresh concerns over the health risks posed by excessive salt consumption in Nigeria, warning that unhealthy diets and lax food labelling regulations are driving the country’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
At a one-day capacity-building workshop held on Thursday at BON Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, CAPPA trained journalists on the critical need for salt reduction, effective food labelling, and policy advocacy to safeguard public health.
“You Shouldn’t Need a PhD to Understand What You Eat” — CAPPA Boss
Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, decried the lack of transparency in food packaging and labelling, stating:
“No one should need a PhD in nutrition to understand what they are eating.”
Oluwafemi explained that modern diets, especially those driven by highly processed and packaged foods, are increasingly harmful.
“More and more people are falling sick not from hunger, but from what they eat,” he said. “Illness is no longer just a result of poverty—it’s now also a consequence of the corporate-controlled food system and who profits from it.”
He cited everyday items like noodles, snacks, bread, sauces, and bouillon cubes as products often disguised as convenient and fortified, yet dangerously high in salt and lacking transparent nutrition information.
Public Health Data Shows Salt Consumption Far Above WHO Limits
Public health consultant Dr. Joseph Ekiyor presented stark figures on Nigeria’s salt intake, noting that:
“Nigerians currently consume between 7 and 10 grams of salt daily—well above the World Health Organization’s recommended 5-gram limit.”
Dr. Ekiyor linked this to a sharp rise in diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. He noted that hypertension in Nigeria rose from 8.6% in 1995 to over 32% in 2020, warning that:
“These are not just health issues—they are economic threats, as they reduce productivity and push households into poverty.”
He added that 73% of global NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, with 82% of those deaths happening before age 70.
“We are sitting on a ticking time bomb,” he said.
Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL): A Solution Under Threat
Both speakers emphasized the urgent need for front-of-pack warning labelling (FOPWL) — a system that clearly flags products high in salt, sugar, or saturated fat — as a vital tool to empower consumers.
“FOPWL gives people the right to know, and the power to choose,” said Oluwafemi. “It’s a transformative intervention that can shift consumer behaviour and pressure companies to reformulate harmful products.”
While countries like Chile and Mexico have successfully implemented the system, Nigeria is facing industry resistance.
Industry Interference: A Familiar Playbook
Oluwafemi warned that the food and beverage industry is actively lobbying against reforms.
“We are seeing the same tactics used by Big Tobacco—lobbying behind closed doors, public relations campaigns disguised as science, and funding of biased research to confuse the public,” he said.
Bouillon cubes, often promoted as nutrition boosters, were cited as an example.
“That’s a classic deflection strategy—emphasize their fortification benefits to distract from their dangerously high salt content,” he said.
Advocacy Wins and The Role of the Media
Despite the challenges, CAPPA highlighted recent policy gains, including:
- The N10 per litre tax on sugary drinks
- National salt reduction guidelines
- Ongoing efforts to eliminate trans fats
Oluwafemi urged journalists to play an active role in the fight for health equity and food justice:
“Your framing determines who is held accountable. The media is not a passive vessel—it is a powerful force for consumer rights and democratic accountability.”
Experts Call for Multi-Faceted Approach to Combat NCDs
The session concluded with calls for a holistic approach to reducing NCDs, including:
- Stronger policy enforcement
- Mass education campaigns
- Clear labelling laws
- Fiscal measures (like taxes)
- Expanded access to universal health coverage
Health experts and advocates agreed that Nigeria’s food system must be reformed — not just to prevent disease, but to defend truth, protect the public, and restore accountability in the nation’s food industry.
Story By Mayowa Adeniran
Editorial Support By Esther Olaoluwa
