Management of Food Labelling Compliance Among Packaged Food Manufacturers in Lagos State: Challenges and Prospects

Food labelling regulations serve as a critical interface between food producers, regulators, and consumers, ensuring access to accurate product information for informed dietary decisions. In Lagos State, which hosts the highest concentration of packaged food manufacturers in Nigeria, labelling compliance remains inconsistent despite established national standards. This study examined the management of food labelling compliance among fifty registered packaged food manufacturers in Lagos State. A structured questionnaire and document review were used to assess awareness of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control labelling requirements, actual labelling practices, internal compliance management structures, and perceived barriers to full compliance. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify predictors of compliance status. Results revealed that only 38 percent of manufacturers achieved full compliance across all mandatory label elements, including ingredient declaration, nutritional information, allergen labelling, and net weight. Common violations included absent or inaccurate nutritional facts panels and non-compliant font sizing for allergen statements. Smaller enterprises demonstrated lower compliance rates, primarily citing cost of label redesign and limited regulatory awareness. Companies employing dedicated food technologists showed significantly higher compliance rates. The study recommends structured capacity building on labelling regulations, regulatory grace periods for label reformatting by small enterprises, and periodic National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control compliance audits as priority interventions for Lagos State. Keywords: food labelling, compliance, NAFDAC, manufacturers, Lagos.