The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified that it has not advised Nigerians to stop consuming bread made and sold in the country.
This comes after a viral video misrepresented the agency’s position, leading to public concern.
In respose to the widespread misconception, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, issued a statement on Tuesday, distancing the agency from the comments made by its South-west Coordinator, Roseline Ajayi.
The Director-General highlighted the misconception that trailed the statement made by NAFDAC South-west Coordinator, Roseline Ajayi, saying bread sold in the markets is failing laboratory tests because producers are using addictives as saccharine due to the high cost of sugar.
“At no time during that engagement with stakeholders did NAFDAC suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“This is the personal statement of the reporter who does not speak for the Agency,” she said.
However, she reassured the public that the Agency remained committed to safeguarding public health and emphasizes that at no point did the agency suggest avoiding bread made in Nigeria.
The Agency used the opportunity to caution bakers against the use of unapproved additives, reiterating that saccharine is not permitted in bread under both the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA).
“Any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharine, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions,” the NAFDAC boss said.
“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,” she said.
