By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, Thursday, kicked against the proposed fortification of maggi cubes also called Bouillon cubes as food vehicles to combat micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria.

The Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the call to the relevant government authorities over the move during a press conference to make their position known about the health complications and dangers the fortification of maggi would pose to the health of Nigerians, while pointing to a high-sodium food such as bouillon, which puts Nigerians on high risks.

Oluwafemi further stated that it is imperative that regulatory bodies such as the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Agency for Food and Drug and Control, NAFDAC, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, synergize to monitor fortification programmes to ensure compliance with global standards and best practices, especially in the selection of food vehicles as “the lives of millions of Nigerians depend on these policy decisions and interventions; hence we must do all we can within our powers and in good conscience to save lives.”

He said: “We acknowledge the critical roles that the Nigerian government, civil society organisations, CSOs, our local communities and other major stakeholders including the industry must play to ensure that Nigerians’ health and nutrition needs are met through a multisectoral approach where no vulnerable group is left out.

“Following the launch of the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (NFCMS) report, some key policy decisions were proposed which have raised concerns about the intent of proponents of these ideas. Amongst this is the consideration of Bouillon cubes (what we commonly call maggi) as a food vehicle for delivering Iron and Zinc to households in order to combat micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria.

“The justification for this policy proposal is based on survey findings that Bouillon is consumed by 96 per cent of the populace. However, this defies one of WHO’s criteria for food vehicle selection which states that a suitable food vehicle must not pose a threat to public health.

“Resulting from the fortification of salt with iodine, Nigeria presently records an average daily salt consumption reaching up to 10 grams per day, dangerously exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit of 2 grams of sodium per day or less than 5 grams of salt per day, which is equivalent to just one teaspoon of salt daily. Fortifying another high-sodium food such as bouillon puts Nigerians at risk of a higher sodium intake.

“To this effect, we hereby demand the following: Immediate discontinuation of ongoing plans to use Bouillon as a food vehicle for fortification as it does not meet all of WHO’s criteria; Collaboration between all critical agencies on ensuring that food fortification does not exacerbate Nigeria’s NCD problems through unintended consequences.

“Implementation of Front-of-Pack labels and enforcement of global best practices in the implementation of nutrient profile models for packaged foods in Nigeria; Government to regulate the marketing and promotion of high-sodium foods especially to vulnerable groups such as school children.

“Implement effective country-wide salt/sodium reduction interventions to stem the ugly tide of the rising burden of slump attacks and hypertension in the country.

Meanwhile, he appealed to media practitioners to be alert to deliberate misinformation that may come from certain individuals or groups that work tirelessly to undermine efforts to promote the health, nutrition and well-being of Nigerians.

According to him, certain industry players and their co-travellers are disseminating unverified scientific information, false research claims and spreading deceptive marketing information through social media influencers to promote Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG) and bouillon as nutritious, safe and healthy for human consumption without also informing consumers that these products contain harmful quantities of sodium.

“We call attention to the alarming trend of using high-sodium foods, such as bouillon cubes, as vehicles for fortification. While fortification aims to address micronutrient deficiencies, the excessive sodium content in these products poses significant health risks. High sodium intake is a well-established risk factor for hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and other NCDs, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in Nigeria. We must not compromise public health in the name of fortification”, he added.

The Technical Advisor, Network for Health Equity and Development, NHED, Dr Jerome Mafeni, said the issues they are expressing concern about and calling on relevant government agencies to act and safeguard the lives of Nigerians include; Correcting Deceptive Marketing Practices, Advocating for Front-of-Pack Labels, FOPL, and decrying the use of high sodium foods for fortification.

“The need for immediate action to reduce sodium intake among Nigerians is clear. High sodium consumption is directly linked to the increasing rates of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in the country, conditions that are placing a growing burden on Nigeria’s healthcare system. Without intervention, these trends will continue to worsen, leading to higher mortality rates, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs.

 “Today, we urge the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other relevant agencies to accelerate preliminary activities for salt and sodium regulation in Nigeria.

“The time for action is now. We must prioritize public health over profit and ensure that the food products available in our markets do not pose unnecessary risks to the health of our citizens.

“In conclusion, we call on all stakeholders, including the government, civil society organizations, and the private sector, to join us in this campaign. “Together, we can drive the change needed to protect the health of Nigerians and create a healthier future for our nation”, Mafemi added.