Health Advocates Voice Concerns Over Unlabeled Food Products

Stakeholders have voiced significant concerns about food products that are not displaying the "Heart Mark" label, an initiative introduced by the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF).

The NHF Heart Mark Food Labelling Program was established in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) back in 2003. Its primary objective is to assist consumers in identifying food options that are healthier.

At the launch event for the Heart Mark Logo Awareness Programme in Lagos, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, the Executive Director of NHF, emphasized the critical role of labelling on food items, especially in light of the escalating health crisis.

"Cardiovascular diseases are on the rise in Nigeria, and unhealthy diets remain a major driver," Dr. Akinroye stated. "The Heart Mark Logo provides a simple, reliable guide to help consumers make healthier food choices at a glance."

He further highlighted that ensuring food products are suitable for human consumption is fundamental to fostering good public health. Dr. Akinroye also pointed out the risks associated with excessive intake of ingredients such as cholesterol, saturated fat, sodium chloride, and potassium, particularly for heart health.

"Over the past two decades, the Programme has enabled Nigerian consumers to identify healthier food products through the NHF Heart Mark Logo," he explained.

"The government has mandated NAFDAC to verify that only food products appropriate for human consumption are registered for sale in our markets."

"What NHF does is to conduct further tests on food products voluntarily submitted for this purpose, to confirm that the aforementioned elements are within an acceptable range. Food products that meet the criteria are then endorsed to carry the heart mark logo, offering reassurance to consumers seeking heart-friendly food options," Dr. Akinroye added.

He announced that NHF is set to commence a month-long awareness campaign, including a national summit, aimed at tackling the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Nigeria by promoting healthier dietary practices.

The awareness program is scheduled to run from April 14 to May 15, 2026.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, who was represented by Jada Abdulrazak, Deputy Director and Head of the Nutrition Division at the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, described the partnership as a vital strategy for advancing national public health objectives.

"The Heart Mark Logo is more than an emblem. It is a tool for empowerment. It cuts through complex nutrition tables and gives consumers a clear, science- based signal that a product meets defined criteria for heart health. This is regulatory science translated into everyday language. This is public health made practical," she remarked.

Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), represented by Dr. Adeola Olukosi, Deputy Director of Research and Head of the Biochemistry and Nutrition Department, commended NHF for its initiatives.

He expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease, identifying it as the leading cause of death both in Nigeria and globally.

"When you talk about nutrition or when you talk about cardiovascular health, you cannot take it away from what you eat. So nutrition is a critical part of health, and we all know that."

"And for you to maintain good health, especially cardiovascular health, you know that what you take in, the kind of food you eat, plays a very important role to either help in preventing or help in managing even the cardiovascular diseases," he concluded.