Consumption of Non-Iodised Salt Risky—NAFDAC

By Ashemiriogwa Emmnauel

Nigerians, who consume non-iodised salt risk health complications, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned.

According to the federal agency, the habitual consumption of excess salt may not appear dangerous but is linked to many non-communicable diseases prevalent in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mrs Christianah Adeyeye, gave the caution at the University of Abuja, during a stakeholder meeting on Evaluation Implementation and Scale-up of Nigeria’s National Sodium Reduction Activities on Thursday

She noted that the meeting was organised to announce the preliminary findings of the project’s first phase, which involves surveys carried out in selected states, including Abuja, Ogun and Kano.

Hosted by NAFDAC in collaboration with the University of Abuja, the gathering also involved relevant stakeholders to discuss strategies that will promote the reduction of sodium (salt) consumption across the country.

According to Mrs Adeyeye, the regulatory body has put in place several mechanisms to promote and protect the health of Nigerians, including creating awareness. She noted that this is the “bedrock of effective regulation.”

“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration collaborates with state and non-state actors using the scale-up of a national sodium reduction program in WHO’s Shake package.

“The purpose of this meeting is to increase awareness of the positive impact of sodium salt reduction on health in the food industry, amongst the policymakers, consumers and other stakeholders on the risk associated with high salt intake.

“Sodium is mainly consumed as salt (sodium chloride) which in the diet can come from processed foods, either because they contain large amounts of salt as ready meals, processed meats like bacon, Corn beef, and cheese,” she explained.

In the same vein, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’allah, during his contribution, enjoined Nigerians to cooperate with the NAFDAC on the meaningful strategy already put in place to reduce salt consumption.