Don’t buy packaged food without reading the label: NAFDAC tells Nigerians

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to make one simple habit part of every shopping trip: read the food label before paying for a packaged product.

The regulator issued the advice in the first episode of its #NAFDACExplains series, published on its official X account on Tuesday, warning that consumers who focus only on a product’s brand, appearance or price could overlook information that matters to their health.

According to NAFDAC, spending a few seconds checking the information printed on food packaging can help consumers avoid expired products, identify ingredients they need to avoid, make more informed nutritional choices and protect their families from potential health risks.

Abubakar Umar, a food safety expert with NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, said consumers often pay attention to the most visible features of a product while ignoring one of the most important.

“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.

Four checks before you buy

NAFDAC identified four key details consumers should examine before purchasing packaged food.

1. Check the date marking

Manufacturing and expiry dates should be checked to ensure the product remains within its shelf life.

Consumers are advised against purchasing expired or out-of-date food, which may have deteriorated in quality and could pose health concerns.

2. Read the ingredients

The ingredient list can be particularly important for people with food allergies, intolerances or specific dietary requirements.

Rather than relying on the product’s name or advertising, shoppers can use the list to determine exactly what has been used to make the food and avoid ingredients that may cause problems.

3. Examine the nutrition information

The nutrition panel provides information about substances such as sugar, salt, fat and protein, among other nutrients.

NAFDAC said paying attention to these figures can help consumers make healthier decisions and better manage their diets.

4. Look for the NAFDAC registration number

Consumers should also check that a packaged food carries a valid NAFDAC registration number.

The number indicates that the product has gone through the agency’s registration process before being approved for sale in Nigeria. NAFDAC therefore encourages consumers to be wary of packaged food products without a valid registration number.

A small habit with a big payoff

The advice applies to everyday products ranging from bread, biscuits and cereals to bottled drinks, instant noodles, canned foods and sachet milk.

NAFDAC’s message is straightforward: “Before you buy it, read it. Before you eat it, understand it.”

The agency says making label-reading routine could help Nigerians become more conscious of what they consume while reducing avoidable food-related health risks.

The consumer alert comes as NAFDAC continues other food and beverage regulatory activities across the country, including enforcement against alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, following the federal government’s ban on such packaging.

For consumers, however, the regulator’s latest message begins with something much simpler: before the product goes into the shopping basket, take a moment to see what is actually inside the pack.