We have continued to advocate for the elimination of trans-fatty acids. As a result, NHED is working with a coalition of partners to encourage the Nigerian legislature to sign a draft regulation initiated by the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). If signed into law, it will eliminate the country’s consumption of foods containing trans-fatty acids.
Our strategy involves high-level advocacy with policy and decision-makers for approval of the regulations, strengthening the Trans Fats free Nigerian coalition, using the Media for public awareness campaigns, and disseminating research to promote regulatory change. The campaign for the elimination of industrially-produced Trans-Fatty Acids (iTFAs) from Nigeria’s food supply through the strengthening of NAFDAC regulations is a 12-months Project. It is designed to continue advocating for NAFDAC and other critical stakeholders on the need to expedite action on the approval and gazetting of the Fats and Oils regulations 2020 and the pre-packaged labeling regulations 2020.
This will be achieved through the use of evidence-based research results that will be derived from the prepackaged food samples TFA chemical analysis and the mapping of PHOs Market in Nigeria to prove the existence of TFAs and to justify appropriate enforcement of the regulations. These results will be incorporated into a published research report on TFAs in Nigeria. This report will be disseminated at National stakeholders’ fora including academic conferences.
