Nigeria’s food manufacturers have been given 18 months to eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids from their products.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced this as part of a new national strategy to tackle one of the country’s major public health risks.

Trans fats, commonly found in processed oils, baked goods, and fried foods, have been linked to heart disease, stroke, and premature death. According to NAFDAC, the new roadmap adopts a step-by-step approach involving product reformulation, laboratory upgrades, compliance monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with government agencies and civil society.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, stated in a keynote address shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the roadmap marks a shift from policy formulation to strict enforcement and implementation.

“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement but also a moral duty. Eliminating these fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent,” she said, calling for national collaboration.

The 18-month transition period is intended to allow manufacturers time to deplete existing stock and reformulate their products in line with the new standards.

This move follows Nigeria’s recognition in 2023 by the World Health Organization (WHO) for adopting best-practice policies on trans-fat elimination. The new roadmap is expected to help Nigeria secure WHO validation for its complete elimination programme and position the country as a regional leader in public health reforms.

NAFDAC emphasized that this action targets one of the world’s most harmful dietary risk factors due to the strong connection between trans fats and cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature death.

WHO recommends that industrially produced trans fats be entirely removed from global food supplies and that intake should not exceed one percent of total daily energy. Countries like Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand have successfully eliminated trans fats through mandatory reformulation policies.

Others, including members of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia) as well as Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, South Africa, and India, have also set strict limits or mandated reductions on trans fats.