The Nigeria Heart Foundation has urged Nigerians to adopt healthier food choices as the country faces a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Its executive director, Kingsley Akinroye, made the call at a summit marking the first NHF Heart Mark Logo Awareness Month, held on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Akinroye said the initiative was designed to guide consumers toward healthier food options, noting that products bearing the Heart Mark logo meet defined nutritional standards.

He said: “The essence of this summit is important because we have recognised that the number one killer disease in Nigeria is heart disease, and it’s preventable.

“There are some factors or agent that when you indulge in them, they can fast-track development of heart disease, because heart disease is very expensive.

“If your diet is very healthy, then you are less likely to develop heart disease. And even if you have developed heart disease, diet also helps in controlling it by reducing all those factors.

“A product with the red mark heart logo allows for quick, on-the-spot identification of healthier food options without needing to read detailed information on the packaging.”

According to him, the programme, launched in 2003 in partnership with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the food industry, aims to promote healthy eating habits, support research, and improve food quality standards.

Mr Akinroye added that certified products are re-evaluated annually to ensure continued compliance with nutritional requirements.

He noted that for many years, product testing had to be conducted abroad due to the absence of accredited laboratories in Nigeria, but said the situation had improved with the establishment of four local testing facilities.

“When we started there was no single laboratory in Nigeria that we could use. If you want to meet global standards. So, for 15 years, NHF shipping products to South Africa to analyse products,” Mr Akinroye said.

He urged food manufacturers to enrol their products in the certification scheme and called for increased public awareness of the Heart Mark logo.

Also, Alayo Sopokan, deputy national coordinator of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) department, Federal Ministry of Health, said NCDs have become the leading cause of death globally and are rising steadily in Nigeria.

He said the ministry had developed national policies on the prevention and control of NCDs to strengthen response efforts and commended NHF for its advocacy.

In his remarks, Prof. Salisu Abubakar, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, emphasised the role of proper nutrition in preventing chronic diseases.

He said sustained public awareness would help Nigerians make informed dietary choices and reduce the risk of heart-related conditions.

Also, Wasiu Afolabi, former president of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, highlighted the growing prevalence of NCDs, noting that cardiovascular diseases account for about 27 per cent of related deaths.

Mr Afolabi, while making a presentation on “Development of Nutrition Criteria for Eligibility of Food Products”, attributed the trend to rapid urbanisation and increased consumption of processed foods high in salt, trans fats, and saturated fats.

He called for urgent consumer education and food reformulation.

The summit also featured presentations by experts on strategies to tackle the increasing burden of NCDs among the nation’s teeming population and promote healthier lifestyles across the country. 

(NAN)