The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dissociated itself from a video circulating on social media titled: “Bread sold in markets failing laboratory tests, NAFDAC raises fresh alarm”.
The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement on Tuesday noted that reporter claimed that NAFDAC had raised a concern that “most of the bread in the market are failing laboratory tests due to the fact that producers are using saccharine to bake bread more than they are using sugar due to the high cost of sugar”, and subsequently advised Nigerians to avoid bread in Nigeria.
She maintained that as a responsive regulatory agency, NAFDAC had to clarify that the content of the video on avoiding bread in Nigeria did not reflect the observation of agency, which was made during a stakeholders’ engagement held on 16th August 2024 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to her, at no time during that engagement with stakeholders did NAFDAC suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria.
She stated that the agency remained a responsible regulator and did not make general statements capable of causing panic and fear in the population, adding that any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharine, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions.
The Director-General further clarified: “The Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) does not permit the use of saccharine in bread. This is the same for the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), an authoritative reference point for food additives, which also does not permit the use of saccharine in bread. Like other food additives, sweeteners usually undergo thorough risk assessments for safety by an Expert Body, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) before approval for use.
“NAFDAC dissociates itself from the reporters comment in the circulating video about avoiding bread in Nigeria. This is the personal statement of the reporter who does not speak for the agency.
“NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that it remains fully alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public”, Adeyeye assured.
