A recent report by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has shed light on the tactics used by food corporations to get Nigerians, especially children and young adults, hooked on ultra-processed foods that damage their health and undermine public health policies.
The report, “Junk on Our Plates: Exposing Deceptive Marketing of Unhealthy Foods Across Seven States in Nigeria,” details a systematic, profit-driven assault on public health by the food and beverage industry.
According to CAPPA, the industry uses aggressive marketing, cultural co-optation, celebrity endorsements, and deceptive labeling to entrench ultra-processed, high-sugar, and high-sodium products in Nigeria’s food environment.
The report notes that the industry’s tactics are reminiscent of those used by the tobacco industry, exploiting loopholes and weak enforcement of existing regulations to flood the market with unhealthy products.
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, warned that the widespread promotion of these foods is redefining global dietary patterns and impacting public health, contributing to the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.
Oluwafemi emphasized the need for stronger public health interventions to balance the food industry’s influence with consumer well-being.
The report made several recommendations, including stronger rules on marketing, particularly to children, clear and readable front-of-pack warning labels on processed foods, limits on salt and sugar content, and public awareness campaigns and food policymaking that are state-led and free from corporate sponsorship or influence.
CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, corroborated Oluwafemi, stating that the food environment in Nigeria is changing for the worse, with people consuming increasingly unhealthy items.
Ibeh urged the government to step up enforcement and regulations on these products, invest in food systems that prioritize the health of its people, and promote local food production and agroecological farming systems.
Other CAPPA officials, including Humphrey Ukeaja and Opeyemi Ibitoye, also contributed to the report, highlighting the need to protect children from the industry’s tactics and promote public health.
The report was made possible by the efforts of CAPPA’s young advocates under the Healthy Food Policy Youth Vanguard (HFPYV) and the CAPPA Digital Media Volunteers (CAPPA DMV), as well as technical support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) team.
The report’s findings and recommendations serve as a call to action for the Nigerian government to take bold steps towards promoting healthier dietary habits and reducing the burden of NCDs.
By implementing stronger regulations and investing in local food systems, Nigeria can promote a healthier future for its citizens.
