The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning to bakeries across Nigeria, urging them to stop using saccharin and bromate in bread production.
Speaking during a News Forum appearance, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye emphasized that bakeries found using these harmful substances would face severe penalties.
“Our post-marketing surveillance is key to monitoring this. We regularly inspect bakeries and other food production facilities, sometimes in response to complaints submitted through our reform office.”
She revealed that several bakeries have been shut down for using bromate in their bread-making process, stating, “If we discover that bromate has been used, or it’s suspected in the product, we will close down the bakery.”
Adeyeye further pointed out that NAFDAC has also closed down numerous water factories that failed to meet health and safety standards or operated in unsanitary conditions.
She highlighted the importance of the agency’s Regulatory Inspection Directorate, which ensures that the products submitted for registration remain compliant with standards.
“When a product is initially registered, we conduct tests and inspections. However, some manufacturers may change their processes or formulas afterward, which is why ongoing post-marketing surveillance is essential. This helps us ensure that what was originally approved is still what is being sold in the market,” she explained.
NAFDAC’s market control efforts are designed to safeguard the public by maintaining consistent quality and preventing substandard products from reaching consumers.
