Abstract
High intake of processed foods, especially those with high sodium content, is a contributor to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to compare the sodium content of packaged foods and beverages in Nigeria to WHO Global Sodium Benchmarks and similar products in Kenya and South Africa. The study examined packaged foods from major retail stores in the capital cities of the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, and Ogun states in Nigeria from November 2020 to March 2021. Benchmark values were based on the 2021 WHO Global Sodium Benchmarks. We used secondary data from packaged food surveys conducted in South Africa (2015, 2016 and Kenya 2019). Approximately 40.0% (n = 36) of subcategories of packaged foods were captured in the WHO global sodium benchmark. Of these, 64.0% (n = 23) exceeded the benchmarks, including 'processed meat' (912.0 vs. 250.0 mg/100 g), cheese (776.0 vs. 190 mg/100 g), and 'wholegrain chips' (930.0 vs. 470 mg/100 g). Exactly 36.0% (n = 13) had lower sodium content, such as 'rice-based snacks' (113.0 vs. 520 mg/100 g) and 'dried seafood' (400 vs. 800 mg/100 g). In seven out of eleven main food categories (64%), Nigeria had a higher sodium content compared to Kenya. Similarly, Nigeria exhibited higher sodium content than South Africa in six out of eleven food categories (55.0%). With 64.0% of Nigerian subcategories exceeding WHO benchmarks and higher sodium levels than South Africa and Kenya in most categories. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted sodium reduction and product reformulation to align Nigeria's packaged foods with international benchmarks.