As the world marks World Food Safety Day 2025, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on governments at all levels to implement policies that promote healthy, indigenous diets and discourage the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UFPs).
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, stated that UFPs are a threat to Nigeria’s food safety, security, and sovereignty, and that policies restricting their consumption are essential to promoting better health and well-being.
The organization recommended policies such as Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling (FOPWL), regulations for enforcing sodium targets in processed and packaged foods, an effective Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax, and the development of a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM).
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Oluwafemi lamented that UFPs have become widely available and are replacing nutritious traditional diets, contributing to the rising burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.
CAPPA’s recent report, “Junk on Our Plates,” found that food and beverage companies are aggressively marketing unhealthy foods to children and young adults, often with false labelling.
The organization emphasized the need for effective measures to ensure food safety and promote healthy diets, citing the World Health Organization’s endorsement of FOPWL as a cost-effective tool for preventing diet-related NCDs.
CAPPA called for a comprehensive approach to address the issue, combining measures such as FOPWL, SSB tax, and NPM to protect Nigerians’ health and well-being.
