Stakeholders raise concerns over food products without heart label

Stakeholders have raised concerns over food products without Heart Mark Food Labelling introduced by the Nigerian Heart Foundation. The NHF Heart Mark Food Labelling Program was implemented by NHF in partnership with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 2003 to support consumers in identifying healthier food options. Speaking at […]

Stakeholders have raised concerns over food products without Heart Mark Food Labelling introduced by the Nigerian Heart Foundation.

The NHF Heart Mark Food Labelling Program was implemented by NHF in partnership with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 2003 to support consumers in identifying healthier food options.

Speaking at the launch of the Heart Mark Logo Awareness Programme in Lagos, the NHF Executive Director, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye underscored the importance of Label in food products amidst the rising health crisis.

“Cardiovascular diseases are on the rise in Nigeria, and unhealthy diets remain a major driver. The Heart Mark Logo provides a simple, reliable guide to help consumers make healthier food choices at a glance,” he said.

He stressed that suitable food products for human consumption is pivotal to building proper health of the citizens, outlining the risk of high intake of food contents like cholesterol, saturated fat, sodium chloride and potassium to the heart.

“Over the last two decades, the Programme has enabled Nigeria consumers to identify healthier food products through the NHF Heart Mark Logo.

“Government has mandated NAFDAC to ascertain that only food products suitable for human consumption are registered for sale in our markets.

 

 

 

“So, what NHF does is to further test food products voluntarily submitted for such an exercise, to confirm that the elements listed above fall within an acceptable level. The successful food product is thereafter endorsed to carry the heart mark logo, thus giving comfort to any consumer seeking heart friendly food,” he said.

 

 

 

He said NHF will begin a one-month awareness program with a national summit to aim at addressing the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Nigeria through the promotion of healthier dietary choices.

 

 

 

The awareness program is scheduled to begin April 14 until May 15, 2026.

 

 

 

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by Jada Abdulrazak, Deputy Director, Head of Nutrition Division, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, described the collaboration as a strategic tool in advancing national public health goals.

 

 

 

“The Heart Mark Logo is more than an emblem. It is a tool for empowerment. It cuts through complex nutrition tables and gives consumers a clear, science-based signal that a product meets defined criteria for heart health. This is regulatory science translated into everyday language. This is public health made practical,” she said.

 

 

 

 

 

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Director-General Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, represented by Dr Adeola Olukosi, Deputy Director of Research and Head of the Biochemistry and Nutrition Department commended the NHF for its efforts.

 

 

 

He raised concerns over the increase of cardiovascular disease, describing it as the leading cause of death in Nigeria and globally.

 

 

 

“When you talk about nutrition or when you talk about cardiovascular health, you cannot take it away from what you eat. So nutrition is a critical part of health, and we all know that.

 

 

 

“And for you to maintain good health, especially cardiovascular health, you know that what you take in, the kind of food you eat, plays a very important role to either help in preventing or help in managing even the cardiovascular diseases,” he said.