World Food Safety Day: CAPPA Warns Of Growing Health Crisis Linked To Unhealthy Diets

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Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Federal Government to implement stronger healthy food policies to curb the growing burden of diet-related diseases in Nigeria, warning that millions of citizens are increasingly at risk from unhealthy diets and weak regulatory safeguards.

Marking the 2026 World Food Safety Day themed, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere,” the organisation stressed that food safety should extend beyond concerns about contamination and foodborne illnesses to include protection against excessive consumption of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and harmful additives linked to non-communicable diseases.

According to CAPPA, Nigeria is experiencing a public health challenge driven by increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages, alongside inadequate policies that leave consumers vulnerable to products associated with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stroke, kidney disease and certain cancers.

CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said food safety must encompass measures that prevent products from gradually undermining the health and wellbeing of consumers.

“Food safety is not only about preventing food poisoning. It is also about ensuring that the foods and drinks available to Nigerians do not slowly undermine their health and wellbeing,” he said.

Oluwafemi noted that diet-related illnesses are placing enormous pressure on families, the healthcare system and the national economy, adding that meaningful solutions require policies that prioritise public health over commercial interests.

The organisation commended the Senate for passing a bill aimed at reforming and strengthening Nigeria’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax framework, describing the move as a significant step toward reducing excessive sugar consumption and preventing non-communicable diseases.

CAPPA urged the House of Representatives to expedite consideration of the bill and forward it to the President for assent.

The group argued that evidence from several countries shows that taxes on sugary drinks help reduce consumption, encourage manufacturers to reformulate products and generate revenue that can be invested in healthcare programmes.

Beyond the sugar tax, CAPPA renewed its call for the adoption of a national sodium reduction target, warning that excessive salt consumption remains a major contributor to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria.

It also advocated the implementation of Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling (FOPWL) on packaged foods and beverages, saying such labels would enable consumers to make healthier choices while encouraging manufacturers to improve product formulations.

The organisation further demanded stricter restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children, accusing food and beverage companies of increasingly targeting young audiences through television, digital platforms, influencers, schools and sporting events.

According to CAPPA, children should be protected from aggressive marketing strategies designed to influence their dietary preferences and consumption habits.

The advocacy group also opposed proposals to fortify ultra-processed products, particularly bouillon cubes with high salt content, warning that fortification should not be used to create a misleading perception that unhealthy products are beneficial simply because vitamins and minerals have been added.

CAPPA maintained that food safety and nutrition policies should be guided by independent scientific evidence and public health considerations rather than industry interests.

The organisation also drew parallels between resistance to healthy food policies and tactics previously employed by the tobacco industry to delay public health reforms.

Oluwafemi argued that opposition to measures such as front-of-pack warning labels, sodium reduction targets, restrictions on child-focused marketing and stronger taxes on sugary drinks reflects strategies once used to weaken tobacco control initiatives.

He stressed that public health policies must be driven by science and the public interest, not by industries whose profitability depends on unhealthy consumption patterns.

CAPPA called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, lawmakers, consumer groups and public health advocates to strengthen collaboration in creating healthier food environments across the country.

The organisation added that truly safe food should not only be free from contamination but should also nourish consumers, protect health and reduce the risk of preventable diseases.