As the world commemorates World Food Safety Day 2026, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has called on the Federal Government to strengthen healthy food policies aimed at addressing the growing burden of diet-related diseases across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday to mark the global event themed, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere,” CAPPA stressed that food safety should go beyond concerns about contamination and foodborne illnesses to include protection against excessive consumption of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and harmful additives linked to non-communicable diseases.
The organisation warned that Nigeria is witnessing a worsening public health crisis driven by increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages, alongside weak regulations that expose consumers to unhealthy products.
Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said millions of Nigerians are currently battling illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney disease, and certain cancers caused by unhealthy diets.
According to him, effective solutions require policies that place public health above commercial interests.
CAPPA also commended the Nigerian Senate for passing a bill aimed at reforming and strengthening the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax framework, describing the move as a major step toward reducing excessive sugar consumption and improving public health outcomes.
The group urged the House of Representatives to expedite action on the bill and forward it to the President for assent.
It noted that evidence from several countries indicates that taxes on sugary drinks help reduce consumption, encourage manufacturers to reformulate products, and generate revenue for public health programmes.
The organisation further advocated the adoption of a national sodium reduction target, warning that excessive salt intake remains a leading cause of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in the country.
CAPPA also called for the implementation of Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling (FOPWL) on packaged foods and beverages to enable consumers make healthier and informed choices.
The group expressed concern over aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children through television, digital platforms, schools, influencers, and sporting activities, insisting that stronger regulations were needed to protect children from harmful dietary habits.
It also opposed proposals to fortify ultra-processed products such as bouillon cubes with high salt content, warning that fortification should not create a false impression that unhealthy products are beneficial.
Oluwafemi maintained that nutrition and food safety policies should be guided by independent scientific evidence and public health priorities rather than industry influence.
Drawing parallels with tactics previously used by the tobacco industry, CAPPA alleged that some food corporations were attempting to resist regulations through campaigns aimed at weakening public health measures.
The organisation called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, lawmakers, consumer groups, and public health advocates to strengthen collaboration towards creating healthier food environments for Nigerians.
CAPPA emphasised that safe food should not only be free from contamination, but should also support healthy living and prevent avoidable diseases.