By Bukola Olukemi-Odele
As Nigeria battles a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke and heart disease, public health advocates are increasingly calling for stronger measures to help consumers make healthier food choices.
One of such measures is the adoption of a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), an evidence-based system that classifies food products according to their nutritional content and helps identify products high in sugar, salt, sodium and unhealthy fats.
The call comes amid concerns that many processed and packaged food products marketed as healthy often contain hidden ingredients that may contribute to long-term health complications.
A typical scenario plays out daily in supermarkets and neighbourhood stores across Nigeria. Parents searching for healthy snacks are confronted with brightly packaged products carrying attractive nutrition claims and child-friendly branding. While labels may highlight added vitamins and minerals, critics argue that they often fail to adequately communicate high levels of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats contained in the products.
This trend reflects a broader nutritional transition occurring across Nigeria, where traditional diets rich in natural and minimally processed foods are increasingly being replaced by processed and ultra-processed products.
Public health experts warn that the shift is contributing significantly to the rise of diet-related illnesses, which have become one of the leading causes of premature deaths globally.
According to global health estimates, non-communicable diseases account for approximately 74 per cent of all deaths worldwide, resulting in more than 40 million deaths annually. A substantial proportion of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.
Against this backdrop, health advocates say Nigeria urgently needs a Nutrient Profile Model tailored to its food environment, dietary habits and public health realities.
Unlike traditional nutrition labels, which many consumers find difficult to interpret, the Nutrient Profile Model evaluates products using scientific criteria to determine whether they contain excessive levels of nutrients linked to poor health outcomes.
Supporters of the initiative argue that the model would provide the foundation for clear front-of-pack warning labels that can be easily understood by consumers regardless of literacy level.
Such labels would enable shoppers to quickly identify products high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats and make more informed purchasing decisions.
Beyond consumer awareness, experts believe the introduction of an NPM could encourage food manufacturers to reformulate products in order to meet healthier standards.
Companies would be incentivised to reduce sodium levels, cut added sugars and replace unhealthy fats with healthier alternatives to avoid warning labels that could discourage consumers from purchasing their products.
The model would also strengthen government efforts to regulate food marketing, particularly advertisements targeting children.
Health advocates have repeatedly expressed concern over the aggressive promotion of sugary drinks, confectioneries and highly processed foods to young audiences through television, digital platforms and outdoor advertising near schools.
Without a formal classification system such as the NPM, regulators often face difficulties defining which products qualify as unhealthy and should therefore be subject to marketing restrictions.
Advocates insist that a nationally adopted Nutrient Profile Model would provide the scientific basis needed for stronger food policies, clearer consumer information and better public health outcomes.
They argue that the initiative is not merely a regulatory tool but a mechanism for promoting transparency, accountability and the right of Nigerians to access accurate information about the foods they consume.
As Nigeria continues to confront rising rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other diet-related illnesses, public health experts say the time has come for policymakers to take decisive action.
The adoption of a Nutrient Profile Model, they contend, could become a critical step towards creating a healthier food environment and protecting future generations from preventable diseases.
Olukemi-Odele, a food scientist, is the Cardiovascular Health Programme Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.
