NAFDAC inaugurates national strategy to eliminate trans fats in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a comprehensive Strategy and Roadmap for Trans-Fatty Acid (TFA) Regulation in Nigeria to strengthen food safety and public health.

This is contained in a statement released Sunday in Abuja by NAFDAC’s resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, who described the initiative as a milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against unhealthy dietary risks.

The statement emphasised that the inauguration reaffirmed NAFDAC’s dedication to protecting citizens from dangerous dietary components associated with heart disease, stroke, and premature death through stronger regulations and improved enforcement mechanisms.

Quoting NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the statement noted that Nigeria had taken bold action by setting limits of not more than two grams of industrially produced trans fats per 100 grams.

Adeyeye explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised Nigeria in 2023 as one of seven countries worldwide implementing best-practice trans-fat elimination policies aimed at safeguarding population health and promoting longevity.

She added that the newly inaugurated roadmap outlined a phased strategy focusing on food industry reformulation, laboratory strengthening, compliance monitoring, public education, and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure sustainable implementation.

Adeyeye further disclosed that with support from partners such as WHO and Resolve to Save Lives, NAFDAC had expanded its laboratory capacity to analyse trans fats, accelerating nationwide implementation efforts.

The Director-General urged government agencies, industry leaders, civil society, and consumers to collaborate toward WHO validation, stressing that eliminating industrially produced trans fats in Nigeria was both urgent and entirely achievable.

Adeyeye affirmed that the roadmap demonstrated Nigeria’s strong commitment to protecting public health, fostering healthier food practices, and creating a future where citizens were free from the harmful impact of trans-fatty acids.