The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has distanced itself from a statement urging Nigerians to avoid eating bread produced and sold in the country.
The agency issued the clarification in response to what it described as a misconception that surrounded NAFDAC South-west Coordinator Roseline Ajayi’s recent statement that bread sold in markets is failing laboratory tests because producers are using addictives such as saccharine due to the high cost of sugar.
Following her statements in a viral video, a reporter speculated that Nigerians were advised to avoid eating bread.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye stated that the video’s content does not reflect the official’s observations, but rather the reporter’s personal view.
“At no time during that engagement with stakeholders did NAFDAC suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria,” according to the declaration.
“NAFDAC dissociates itself from the reporter’s 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,” according to her.
She reassured the public that the Agency remained fully alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public.
“The Agency is a responsible regulator and does not make general statements capable of causing panic and fear in the population,” she said.
NAFDAC cautioned bakers in the country against using unapproved food additives.
“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.