The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised serious concerns about the safety of bread sold in Nigerian markets, revealing that many products are failing laboratory tests due to the use of saccharine, a sugar substitute. This issue arises from the high cost of sugar, which forces bread producers to cut corners and potentially compromise consumer health.
NAFDAC’s Warning
During a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, NAFDAC’s Southwest Coordinator, emphasized the agency’s commitment to maintaining food safety standards despite the economic challenges faced by manufacturers. “Recently, we observed that bread sold in the markets is failing laboratory tests because producers are using saccharine due to the high cost of sugar,” Ajayi stated. She stressed that NAFDAC will not compromise on its standards, highlighting the importance of product quality and consumer health.
In addition to the bread issue, NAFDAC cautioned water producers, patent medicine dealers, and other regulated product manufacturers against selling fake and substandard goods. Recent inspections revealed that some patent medicine dealers were distributing restricted drugs and unregistered products, while others failed to meet proper packaging and storage standards.
Atiku’s Aide Responds
Phrank Shaibu, senior assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, criticized the government’s response to the NAFDAC report on social media. He sarcastically commented on the enduring freshness of bread since the current administration took office, suggesting that bread now remains unspoiled for weeks, a phenomenon he attributes to government actions.
Shaibu questioned whether the government had responded adequately to the concerns raised by bread makers last November regarding forex issues and implied that NAFDAC’s complacency in addressing these problems was contributing to the current crisis. “When bread makers voiced their forex woes last November, did the government heed their call? Surely, an esteemed agency such as yours ought to have anticipated that manufacturers might resort to excessive preservatives,” Shaibu wrote.