The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked the misconceptions and concerns raised in a video circulating on social media regarding bread consumption in Nigeria.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of NAFDAC, says in a statement seen by Technology Times that the agency acknowledges the existence of a video falsely claiming that NAFDAC had raised concerns about bread safety in Nigeria, advising Nigerians to avoid bread due to the use of saccharine by some producers.
NAFDAC says that “the use of saccharine in bread is not permitted under the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA). Any baker found using unapproved additives like saccharine will face sanctions according to regulatory provisions.”
NAFDAC: Use of saccharine in bread is not permitted
However, Professor Adeyeye says, the video does not accurately reflect the observations made during a stakeholders’ engagement on August 16, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The two-day NAFDAC’s stakeholders’ engagement with manufacturers of regulated products and patent medicine sellers in Ibadan, Oyo State, was part of its mandate to safeguard the health of the citizen, the government agency says.
Representatives from various sectors including master bakers, water producers, MSME operators, chemical dealers, QSRs, agro input dealers, importers, supermarket operators, and manufacturers/distributors of regulated products were in attendance, according to NAFDAC.
NAFDAC says that “the use of saccharine in bread is not permitted under the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA). Any baker found using unapproved additives like saccharine will face sanctions according to regulatory provisions.”
NAFDAC clarifies that it did not advise Nigerians to avoid consuming bread produced in the country.
Saccharine, an artificial sweetener, is commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is significantly sweeter than regular sugar, requiring only a small amount to achieve a sweet taste. Made in a laboratory, saccharin appears as a white, crystalline powder.
According to NAFDAC, the claims are solemnly that of the reporter alone, adding that the personal opinion of the reporter does not reflect the agency’s stance.
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