NAFDAC tells Nigerians: Check these four things before buying packaged food
By Aboki Forex —
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has asked Nigerians to read food labels carefully before buying any packaged product. The advice came in the debut episode of the agency's #NAFDACExplains series posted on its official X account on Tuesday.
NAFDAC said taking a few seconds to examine key information on food packaging can help consumers avoid expired products, make healthier dietary choices, and protect their families from potential health risks.
What to look out for
Speaking in the video, Abubakar Umar, a food safety expert at NAFDAC's Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, said many consumers focus only on brand, appearance, or price while overlooking the food label.
"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.
NAFDAC highlighted four critical details every shopper should verify before buying any packaged food:
1. Expiry or date marking: Consumers should confirm the manufacturing and expiry dates to ensure the product is still within its shelf life. Buying expired or out-of-date food products could pose health risks and compromise food quality.
2. Ingredient list: The agency advised buyers to carefully review the list of ingredients, especially those with food allergies or special dietary needs. Knowing exactly what a product contains helps consumers avoid ingredients they cannot tolerate.
3. Nutrition information: NAFDAC encouraged Nigerians to examine the nutrition facts panel, which provides details about sugar, salt, fat, protein and other nutrients. Understanding this information can help people make healthier choices and manage their diets.
4. NAFDAC registration number: Another important check is the NAFDAC registration number, which shows the product has passed the agency's registration process before being approved for sale in Nigeria. Consumers are encouraged to avoid products that do not carry a valid number.
Why it matters
Packaged foods include everyday items such as bread, biscuits, bottled drinks, instant noodles, canned foods, sachet milk, cereals, and other products sealed before being sold.
NAFDAC summed up 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, the regulator says adopting this simple habit could reduce health risks, improve nutrition awareness, and help families make smarter food choices every time they shop.
This consumer guidance comes as NAFDAC also continues a coordinated nationwide operation to remove alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles smaller than 200 millilitres from the Nigerian market, following earlier moves to shut down production facilities breaching the federal ban.