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World Food Day 2026: CAPPA Pushes For Tougher Regulation Of Ultra-Processed Foods
*By Prince Benson Davies*
The Federal Government has been urged to make affordability, nutrition and protection against unhealthy food environments the core of its food security agenda.
The call was made by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, in a statement to commemorate World Food Day 2026, themed Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.
According to CAPPA, while Nigeria’s food production index has recorded steady growth, with the country retaining its position as the world’s leading producer of cassava and a major producer of yam and sorghum among other staples, the gains have not translated to food and nutrition security for millions of Nigerians.
The organisation noted that massive post-harvest losses, insecurity in major food-producing belts, and logistics and supply chain gaps have continued to fuel hunger, with millions still facing acute food insecurity and undernutrition.
CAPPA said it was important for government not to assess food security progress solely by volume of food produced or available in the markets, but by whether Nigerians can access food that is safe, nutritious, affordable and produced in a manner that protects public health.
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, on the rising cost of healthy diets, the group blamed the aggressive and deceptive marketing tactics of the ultra-processed food industry for distorting food choices and limiting access to nutritious diets.
It said, Food security must mean more than having something to eat. It must also mean having access to food that nourishes the body, protects health and supports human development. Nigerians should not have to choose between feeding their families and providing them with nutritious meals.
CAPPA warned that a food system that expands availability without addressing nutritional quality could undermine public health efforts, stressing that excessive intake of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats is linked to obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.
The group argued that hunger and malnutrition cannot be addressed in isolation from the wider food environment, including the marketing and availability of ultra-processed products high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, the affordability of fresh and minimally processed foods, and the strength of regulatory protection for consumers.
It acknowledged the ongoing review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition covering 2016 to 2025 and the plan to accelerate a National Food and Nutrition Bill to protect nutrition financing, but cautioned against reliance on the ultra-processed food industry to solve Nigeria’s nutrition challenges.
According to CAPPA, the industry’s primary loyalty is to profit rather than public health.
The organisation urged the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to strengthen measures that make food products safer and healthier, including an effective sugar-sweetened beverage tax, front-of-pack warning labels, sodium reduction targets, restrictions on marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and elimination of industrially produced trans fats.
It specifically called on the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and pass the Customs, Excise Tariffs, etc. (Consolidation) Act Amendment Bill, otherwise known as the SSB Tax Bill, to discourage excessive consumption of sugary drinks and mobilise domestic resources for the health sector.
CAPPA also called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and other regulatory authorities to strengthen food labelling and product regulation, insisting that consumers must be empowered to make informed choices through Front-of-Pack Warning Labels.
The group said children deserve stronger protection from the promotion of foods and beverages high in nutrients of concern, whether through digital advertising, influencer marketing or promotions around schools.
It further urged government to make nutritious foods more affordable by investing in local food systems, supporting smallholder farmers, agroecological practices, storage, processing and distribution infrastructure.
Such investments, CAPPA said, would help reduce post-harvest losses, boost local livelihoods and improve access to diverse and healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
The organisation noted that Nigeria’s food policies must confront the influence of commercial interests on public health decision making, calling for transparent policy processes, safeguards against conflict of interest and meaningful public participation in food systems governance.
It added that World Food Day should be an opportunity to interrogate whether current food policies are delivering tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
According to CAPPA, true innovation must involve stronger public institutions, effective regulation, sustainable agricultural practices and food systems that prioritise nutrition, equity and accountability.
