A new documentary examining the health and environmental consequences of excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has received praise for its compelling storytelling and evidence-based approach to a growing public health concern in Nigeria.
In a review of Sweet Poison, journalist and media scholar, Olayinka Oyegbile, described the film as a timely intervention that exposes how ultra-processed food and beverage companies have embedded sugary drinks into everyday Nigerian life through aggressive marketing and widespread distribution.
The documentary, produced by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, premiered in May and explores the link between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity.
According to Oyegbile, the documentary succeeds by presenting evidence through the voices of medical experts, policymakers, traders, students and individuals living with diet-related illnesses, rather than adopting a preachy tone.
“What makes Sweet Poison compelling is that it does not preach. It simply lays out the evidence,” he noted, adding that the film encourages viewers to re-examine everyday consumption habits that are often taken for granted.
The review highlights the documentary’s examination of the extensive marketing strategies employed by beverage manufacturers, noting how advertisements on buses, billboards, school walls and public spaces have normalized the consumption of sugary drinks, particularly among young people.
Speaking at the premiere, Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the documentary was designed to connect the growing dependence on sugary drinks with the country’s evolving public health challenges.
“Sweet Poison is an attempt to connect the dots. It combines medical evidence, lived experiences and on-the-ground realities to show how growing dependence on sugary drinks is quietly reshaping the nation’s health profile,” Oluwafemi said.
Beyond public health concerns, the documentary also addresses the environmental impact of beverage consumption, particularly the proliferation of plastic waste. It draws attention to the discarded plastic bottles littering streets, blocking drainage channels and contributing to flooding in many urban areas.
Oyegbile noted that one of the film’s strengths lies in its balanced approach. Rather than blaming consumers, it focuses on education and awareness, encouraging viewers to make informed choices about what they consume.
The review also acknowledged the documentary’s treatment of economic arguments often advanced by the beverage industry. While recognising the sector’s role in job creation and revenue generation, Sweet Poison argues that business interests should be balanced with public health considerations and social responsibility.
Describing the documentary as “thoughtful and timely,” Oyegbile urged wider distribution and screenings in schools, universities and community centres, particularly for young people who are among the primary targets of junk food and beverage marketing campaigns.
The reviewer concluded that Sweet Poison deserves broader recognition and international exposure for drawing attention to a public health crisis that is unfolding quietly across Nigerian communities.
