Nutrition and public health experts have urged National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reverse its directive suspending the Heart Mark logo on food products, warning it could undo over 20 years of progress in helping Nigerians make healthier dietary choices.
At a media briefing marking the Heart Mark Logo Month, the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) said neither it nor affected manufacturers received formal communication about the directive.
NHF Executive Director, Kingsley Akinroye, described the move as troubling, especially after both bodies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2024.
Akinroye warned that removing the logo would weaken consumer confidence and eliminate a simple, trusted guide for identifying heart-friendly products.
He explained that the Heart Mark, introduced in 2003, is a science-based, voluntary certification aligned with global best practices and requires annual re-evaluation of all approved products.
He stressed that only products already registered by NAFDAC qualify for the programme, adding that items failing to meet strict nutritional standards automatically lose certification.
Experts noted that suspending the logo could worsen public health challenges linked to high intake of salt, unhealthy fats and cholesterol—major drivers of heart disease.
Despite the controversy, NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed support for the initiative, describing the Heart Mark as a practical tool that simplifies nutrition choices for consumers.
Health advocates, including Segun Odegbami, called for sustained awareness, lifestyle changes and stronger collaboration to protect Nigerians from rising cases of hypertension, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Reporting by Julie Ekong