NAFDAC gives food companies 18 months to eliminate trans fats

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has given Nigerian food manufacturers an 18-month grace period to phase out industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFAs), setting a compliance deadline of early 2026.

Under the new regulation, trans fats in foods must not exceed two grams per 100 grams of total fat or oil—aligning Nigeria with global best practices.

The moratorium is expected to allow companies to exhaust existing stock, update labelling, and reformulate products to meet the new legal limit.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the move as both a technical milestone and a “moral imperative,” stressing that eliminating TFAs is urgent for safeguarding public health.

“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative,” she said in a statement released on Friday.

Trans fats, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature death, are the target of global elimination campaigns led by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Nigeria was recognised by WHO in 2023 for adopting best-practice TFA policies, and NAFDAC says the roadmap will secure full WHO validation of Nigeria’s elimination programme.

The agency has urged nationwide collaboration to ensure smooth implementation, positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in public health regulation.