Stakeholders in Nigeria's health and food regulation sectors are calling on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reinstate the Nigerian Heart Foundation's (NHF) Heart Mark logo on food products. The suspension, which reportedly began in 2024, has affected several products, including vegetable oils, milk, and packaged water, and is seen by many as a setback to efforts aimed at promoting healthier dietary choices and combating the rising tide of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the country.

The appeal comes as the NHF launched its first-ever Heart Mark Logo Month, a nationwide campaign running from April 14 to May 15, 2026, aimed at increasing awareness about heart-friendly nutrition and preventive healthcare. The Heart Mark logo, established in 2003 in partnership with NAFDAC, serves as a vital public health tool, offering consumers a simple, science-based guide to identify foods that meet specific heart-healthy nutritional criteria. Products bearing the logo have undergone rigorous scientific evaluation by the NHF, based on nutritional aspects such as cholesterol, saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, sugar, fibre, and potassium levels, after initial registration and approval by NAFDAC.

Health experts and stakeholders argue that the suspension has weakened consumer confidence and removed a trusted indicator for healthier food options, potentially exacerbating public health challenges linked to high intake of salt and unhealthy fats, which are major drivers of heart disease in Nigeria. They point out that Nigeria's average daily salt intake is estimated at 10 grams per person, double the recommended maximum of 5 grams.

NAFDAC, however, has defended the suspension, stating it was necessary to allow for further scientific evaluation of products making heart-health claims and to ensure alignment with national and international regulations. A NAFDAC official noted that while products may meet basic registration requirements, those making specific health claims need additional scrutiny to ensure scientific evidence fully supports such claims, thereby avoiding misleading the public. The agency has indicated it is working with the NHF to harmonize standards.

Despite NAFDAC's position, stakeholders are urging for greater regulatory clarity, stronger collaboration, and sustained public education. They emphasize that the Heart Mark logo is a critical public health intervention designed to save lives and are calling for its immediate reinstatement to support ongoing efforts to combat non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. The NHF's campaign includes advocacy visits, engagements with lawmakers, and market sensitization activities in Lagos and Abuja.