The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has clarified that it does not have direct and absolute regulatory oversight over unbranded palm oil, fufu and other traditionally packaged staple foods sold in open markets.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the clarification while briefing journalists on the agency’s efforts to tackle suspected counterfeit, adulterated and unsafe products across Nigeria.
Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC received 225 complaints about suspected counterfeit products in August, noting that the agency receives more than 200 complaints from Nigerians every month.
“We received over 200 complaints from Nigerians monthly; in August we received 225 calls through NAFDAC complaint channel,” she said, according to NAN.
She urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeiters through NAFDAC’s official complaint channels instead of relying solely on social media.
“Counterfeiters are not ghosts; they exist within our communities, neighbourhoods, and business premises,” she said.
Adeyeye acknowledged concerns over suspected adulterated or unsafe products including yoghurt, palm oil, apples, soy sauce, olive oil, chicken, fish, water and beverages.
However, she stressed that social media claims alone cannot establish whether a product is unsafe or counterfeit, saying scientific evaluation is required.
She added that NAFDAC’s food regulatory mandate mainly covers processed and packaged products, including inspection, laboratory testing, compliance monitoring, product verification, recalls and enforcement.
The clarification has sparked reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning the agency’s level of monitoring of food products sold in open markets.
Fayokemi Osaeti Eke: Reasons y U suppose employ more hands to do undercover jobs for the body
Lious Adaezechukwu: Oh dear Dora Akunyili. Which one did you deal with at all?
Ike Chineke: Agreed but what about worm in biscuits,or are those ones not branded too? Or substances inside juice? What about the latest oral b toothpaste and other tin food like sardine,Titus and other can drinks? Abi those ones are not branded too?
Hopesy Eseoghene: See her yeye face ehn. What’s stopping you from having a coordinated control over consumables like that ehn?
Robert Nandom Yusuf: What have you done about fake drugs, fake drink, bread and those you have control over?
Victoria Daniel: That’s why you should patronize me and buy palm oil from me instead
Sam Ozogbodo: But you’re the director general of Nafdac and which regulates food’s, medicines and other’s.
Eddy Igho Obuks: What about having officers in markets to ensure the product sold meet the standard abi if ur officers see rotten tomatoes, they don’t have control too?
Princewill Okenyi: So let the best immune system win the war
Humble Thaddeus: The one wey Una get control over how una don first make then they safe.
Austine Nwanguma: If you can’t solve a problem let others try
