NIFST, ISA call for science-based food reformulation, stronger local research.
The stakeholders, under the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) and the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), also urged the Federal Government to enhance local research, align food additive regulations with global standards, and improve public awareness of low- and no-calorie sweeteners.
NIFST President Dr. Bola Osinowo, speaking at a two-day conference titled “Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Nigeria: The Science and Safety,” noted that Nigeria is experiencing a sharp increase in diet-related non-communicable diseases, especially type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Osinowo stated that clinical data suggest that between six million and 11.2 million Nigerian adults have diabetes, describing it as a major economic burden on households and the health system.
He explained that the average Nigerian with diabetes might spend between N20,000 and over N150,000 monthly on insulin, blood glucose monitoring, and clinical care.
The challenge is worsened by a shortage of specialists, with fewer than 200 physician endocrinologists practicing countrywide.
Osinowo emphasized: “We cannot discuss the future of food formulation in Nigeria without addressing our current public health and economic realities.
“Nigeria is currently witnessing a severe rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases, most importantly type 2 diabetes and obesity.”
He further explained that as manufacturers increasingly adopt low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) to reduce sugar in foods and drinks, Nigeria needs a scientific and regulatory framework to support this transition.
He stated that approved LNCS have undergone safety assessments by international organizations, including JECFA and EFSA.
Additionally, NAFDAC has established Food Additives Regulations 2021 and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners in Food Products Regulations 2021.
However, gaps remain, including limited consumer awareness, lack of national dietary intake data, and technical challenges in food reformulation.
Research by Nigerian institutions shows that awareness of sweeteners is relatively high—up to 73.5 percent in some groups surveyed—but functional understanding of their safety and health effects is poor, with 67 to 70.8 percent of respondents lacking adequate knowledge.
Research in Calabar Municipality indicates that up to 58.1 percent of young adults often consume aspartame-sweetened carbonated drinks.
Nigeria currently lacks a unified dietary database that monitors sweetener intake and models exposure levels across various populations.
Therefore, they called for nationwide dietary surveys across all six geopolitical zones to generate local evidence for policies and regulations.
On the industry side, the 10 percent tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB), equivalent to N10 per liter, has encouraged reformulation but also introduced new technical challenges.
Replacing sugar in drinks is complex, as manufacturers must also preserve bulk, mouthfeel, viscosity, sensory qualities, and shelf life.
This issue is particularly significant in Nigeria due to hot and humid conditions affecting storage and distribution.
The conference recommended strengthening partnerships between food producers, academic institutions, and research centers to test sweetener blends and reformulated products in local environments.
It also called for coordinated risk-communication campaigns involving NIFST, ISA, and public health authorities to counter misinformation and make evidence-based information accessible to healthcare professionals and consumers.
The stakeholders urged the Federal Ministry of Health and other regulatory bodies to align Nigeria’s food additive standards with the Codex Alimentarius and recent international safety evaluations.
Furthermore, they proposed developing specialized curricula on food reformulation for R&D teams and creating simplified safety fact sheets on sweeteners for medical and nutrition experts.
They concluded that Nigeria’s approach to combating its rising diet-related health issues must include sugar reduction, consumer education, regulatory oversight, and boosting local scientific research.
It was agreed that NIFST and ISA should begin capacity-building initiatives before the end of 2026, with government agencies working toward regulatory harmonization and better national dietary monitoring.
The two-day conference, held at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, gathered representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, SON, food and beverage manufacturers, academics, nutritionists, consumer groups, and other industry stakeholders.
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