Experts harp on healthy foods consumption as NHF enrols Sunola Oil

Apparently disturbed by the growing number of unhealthy heart food products in the Nigerian market, experts from medicine profession and regulatory bodies such as National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) and Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) have urged Nigerians to be alert over foods and drugs they consume on a daily basis.

The experts, including Oladipo Akinkungbe, an emeritus professor of medicine, Sylvia Ajoku, deputy director, among others who gathered at Isolo headquarters of Sunola Foods Limited over the Nigerian Heart Foundation heart check endorsement, declared that growing number of unhealthy heart food products in Nigerian market is alarming.

Oladipo Akinkungbe, president, board of trustees, Nigerian Heart Foundation, said the reports indicated that foods and drugs consumption in the country has increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including heart diseases, hypertension, kidney disease and diabetes mellitus, saying NHF was established to control Nigerian intakes through Heart Check Food Labelling Programme.

He said, “The incidence of non-communicable disease has reached a level in which anybody who wishes to purchase any food product from market should have to look at the product label. Nigerian Heart Foundation and NAFDAC through its collaboration on this programme are better positioned to tackle the threat of heart diseases by educating the population on the need to make informed choices.

“We call on Nigerian consumers who are conscious of their well-being to eat heart friendly food products, because what we eat can make a real difference in helping to lower total blood cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and blood glucose, which are critical risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs)”.

Sylvia Ajoku, deputy director, NAFDAC, declared that the agency would step up its activities in the area of foods and drugs control and administration as regards prevention of unhealthy foods and drugs production, distribution and consumption in conjunction with Nigerian Heart Foundation, adding that Nigerians should be very conscious of what they consume every time.

Earlier, Victor Eburajolo, group deputy director, Kewalram Chanrai Group, the producer of Sunola Soya Oil said that Sunola Soya Oil has been improved and fortified with nutrients and could help reduce non-communicable diseases, especially heart diseases, saying Sunola Soya Oil brand is “of standard, we have no alternative except to keep standard.”

RAZAQ AYINLA