By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) said Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) industry players supporting false researches.
It said the research conducted recently questions the health risks of SSBs.
Speaking on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja, Dr. Francis Fagbule, Public Health Expert, in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said the research was full of false narratives.
At a press conference themed ‘SSB tax: Industry undermining public health for profits’, “Unmasking the Truth: Navigating the Health Realities of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Nigeria”,
he said the event was necessary to address the misinformation.
“Nigerians are currently witnessing an alarming trend in the deliberate dissemination of misleading narratives by the SSB industry, clouding the public’s understanding of the true health implications associated with habitual consumption of their products.
“In recent times, we have witnessed an alarming trend in the deliberate dissemination of misleading narratives by the SSB industry. clouding the public’s understanding of the true health implications associated with habitual consumption of their products. Today, as part of CAPPA’s ongoing efforts to educate the public and advocate for healthy public policy on SSB consumpton im Nigeria, we aim to shed light on these misleading claims and present the scientific evidence surrounding the health risks of SSBs.
“Commercial Determinants of Heaith: l would like to begin by explaining the concept of ‘commercial determinants of health’ which is what is currently at play in the country.
“Commercial determinants of health highlight the “influence that profit-oriented entities, particularly corporations and industries, have on shuping health-related behaviors and outcomes.” In the context of Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) consumption in Nigeria, these commercial determinants play a significant role in influencing patterns of consumption.
“Some of these activities include:
Advertising and Marketing: SSB industries heavily invest in advertising and marketing to promote their products, While it 15 normal for companies to advertise, they bear the responsibility of providing comprehensive information, especially regarding the contents and potential risks associated with habitual consumption of these products.
“Industry Lobbying and Influence: SSB industries often engage in lobbying activities to shape policies in their favor, resisting or diluting regulations such as SSB taxes or labeling requirements.
“Misinformation Campaigns: The industry engages in campaigns that downplay or dismiss the health risks associated with SSB consumption, creating confusion among the public. This misinformation challenges individuals’ ability to make informed and healthy choices.
“Industry-Led Research: Argument: Industry-funded research may attempt to cast doubt on the health risks of SSBs or the effectiveness of SSB taxes. Reality: Independent, peer-reviewed research is essential to establish the credibility of health policies.
“Blaming Individual Choice: Argument: The sugar industry often argues that SSB consumption is a matter of personal choice and responsibility. Reality: While personal choices play a role, the industry’s marketing tactics, accessibility, and affordability of SSBs also heavily influence consumption” he said.
In his remarks, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director, CAPPA, said statistics show that one in ten Nigerians now live with diabetes, placing a crippling burden on individuals and Nigeria healthcare system.
“For years, the sugar-sweetened beverages industry has painted a picture of sugary drinks as innocent pleasures. But behind the vibrant colours and catchy jingles les a grim reality. SSBs are laden with empty calories, fuelling a public health crisis of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. The statistics are sobering: one in ten Nigerians now live with diabetes, placing a crippling burden on individuals and Nigeria healthcare system.
“The manufacturing industry actively targets children and youths, bombarding them with sugary advertising and social activities, normalizing unhealthy habits at a crucial stage in their development.
“This predatory marketing exploits the vulnerability of young minds, shaping preferences that echo for years. The consequences are far-reaching as diabetes and its complications steal years of healthy life, erode productivity, and strain resources, leaving families shattered and futures uncertain.
“Amidst the festive cheer, the SSB industry drowns out public health concerns with a deafening roar of misinformation. They blame personal responsibility. They ignore their aggressive marketing tactics that target the most vulnerable: children and low-income communities. While families come together for festive gatherings, the SSB industry feasts on obscene profits, built on the backs of collective health.
“These producers annually especially during festive seasons corporate corporate activities like festivals, awards and sponsoring popular events, as a way of promoting their unhealthy products.
“The intense greenwashing including cleaning up of shoreline, provision of motorised borehole, different paid awards, and posturing as helpers of communities. They are cleaning the shoreline of plastic wastes they created, providing water for communities they have used up and contaminated their water. All these are done to distract the people from the health dangers they a e inflicting on the population.
“It is important to note that as Nigerians we must choose public health over corporate greed and advocate for an increase in the current N10/ litre tax on these unhealthy drinks which began implementation in June 2022, demonstrably proven to reduce consumption by up to 20% in over 100 countries that have already implemented the tax.
“SSB tax is a public health intervention, a nudge towards healthier choices, a disincentive to the excessive consumption of sugar. Studies have shown that a 10% SSB tax can lead to a significant decrease in consumption, particularly among low-income communities disproportionately affected by sugary drinks.”