The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a fresh warning to Nigerians, urging them to scrutinize food labels before purchasing any packaged product. The agency emphasized that a few seconds of inspection can prevent the consumption of expired or unsafe foods, thereby protecting families from potential health hazards.
NAFDAC's Educational Initiative
The advice was delivered in the debut episode of NAFDAC's #NAFDACExplains series, posted on the agency's official X account on Tuesday. The series aims to educate the public on critical food safety practices. Packaged foods covered by this advisory include everyday items such as bread, biscuits, bottled drinks, instant noodles, canned foods, sachet milk, cereals, and other products sealed before sale.
Expert Insight: Look Beyond Brand and Price
Speaking in the video, Abubakar Umar, a food safety expert at NAFDAC's Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, noted that many consumers focus solely on a product's brand, appearance, or price, overlooking the most vital source of information: the food label. He stressed that labels provide essential details for informed purchasing decisions.
"When you buy packaged food, what usually catches your attention first? Is it the brand? The picture on the packaging? Or perhaps the price? For many of us, that's where we stop. But there's something even more important, and that is the food label," Umar said.
The Four Critical Checks
NAFDAC highlighted four specific details every shopper must verify before buying any packaged food:
- Expiry or Date Marking: Confirm both the manufacturing and expiry dates to ensure the product is within its shelf life. Consuming expired food can pose serious health risks.
- Ingredient List: Carefully review the list of ingredients, especially if you have allergies or special dietary needs. Knowing what a product contains helps avoid intolerable components and supports healthier choices.
- Nutrition Information: Examine the nutrition facts panel for details on sugar, salt, fat, protein, and other nutrients. This understanding aids in making better dietary decisions.
- NAFDAC Registration Number: Verify that the product carries a valid NAFDAC registration number, indicating it has passed the agency's approval process for sale in Nigeria. Products without this number should be avoided.
A Simple Habit with Big Benefits
Reinforcing the message, NAFDAC stated that spending a few moments reading labels can significantly impact consumer safety and health. The agency summarized its advice with a simple reminder: "Before you buy it, read it. Before you eat it, understand it."
With millions of Nigerians purchasing packaged foods daily, adopting this habit could reduce health risks, improve nutrition awareness, and help families make smarter food choices every time they shop.
Related Enforcement Action
In a related development, Legit.ng earlier reported that NAFDAC launched a coordinated nationwide operation to remove alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles smaller than 200 millilitres from the market. The exercise, running across all six geopolitical zones, follows moves to shut down production facilities violating the federal ban on such products. Officers have been deployed to markets, motor parks, retail shops, and distribution points to confiscate and destroy prohibited items, according to Leadership reports.
