As the world marked World Heart Day, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has warned the Federal Government against policies that could increase Nigerians’ consumption of ultra-processed foods, saying mandatory fortification of bouillon cubes could undermine efforts to prevent diet-related diseases.
In a statement to commemorate the Day, CAPPA said Nigeria is already facing an unhealthy food environment, with ultraprocessed products increasingly promoted through advertising, celebrity endorsements, cultural imagery, pricing strategies and product placement.
World Heart Day, observed every September 29 by the World Heart Federation, has this year’s theme, “Don’t Miss a Beat,” which encourages early recognition of overlooked signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CAPPA said its Junk on Our Plates report, based on monitoring across seven states, found aggressive marketing of foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, particularly to children, young people and low-income communities.
The organization warned that diets high in sodium, added sugars and unhealthy fats increase the risk of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke. It said excessive sodium intake is particularly concerning because it contributes to high blood pressure, a major risk factor for CVD. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults consume less than 2,000mg of sodium daily, equivalent to less than 5g of salt.
It estimates that excessive sodium consumption is associated with about 1.7 million deaths globally each year. Against this background, CAPPA expressed concern over proposals to make fortification of ultra-processed products, including bouillon cubes, a mandatory nutrition intervention.
The organisation argued that adding vitamins and minerals to an ultra-processed product does not make it healthy or cancel out potentially excessive levels of sodium, sugar or unhealthy fats. It also rejected the argument that the widespread consumption of bouillon cubes makes them an appropriate vehicle for mandatory fortification, saying their popularity should instead prompt closer scrutiny of their nutritional composition and health effects.
CAPPA warned that increasing the nutritional appeal of heavily consumed processed foods without reducing their sodium content could send conflicting messages to consumers and undermine efforts to cut salt consumption.
CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said, “Protecting the heart also involves protecting the food environment. Adding micronutrients to an unhealthy product does not make it healthy.” He urged the government to prioritise affordable, nutritious and minimally processed foods while reducing Nigerians’ exposure to excessive salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
CAPPA called for stronger implementation of Nigeria’s sodium-reduction measures, mandatory and easily understandable front-ofpack warning labels, tighter regulation of unhealthy-food marketing and greater access to fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. It urged the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) to base nutrition policies on independent public-health evidence and long-term health outcome.
Source: Newtelegraphng
