The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified that it does not exercise direct regulatory control over unbranded palm oil, fufu and other traditionally packaged staple foods sold in open markets. The agency's Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists on NAFDAC's efforts to combat counterfeit, adulterated and potentially unsafe products across Nigeria.
Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC received 225 complaints concerning suspected counterfeit products in August, noting the agency receives more than 200 complaints monthly, and urged Nigerians to report suspected products through official complaint channels rather than relying primarily on social media; she cautioned that social media claims alone cannot establish whether a product is counterfeit or dangerous—scientific testing and regulatory investigations are necessary.
She raised concerns about alleged adulteration of palm oil with azo dyes and other hazardous substances, particularly products packaged and sold traditionally in open markets, and reports that chemicals including bleach are sometimes added to fufu and other staple foods during production—practices that could pose serious public-health risks. Despite these concerns, NAFDAC does not have direct and absolute regulatory oversight over unbranded open-market staples, so she called on state and local authorities to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.
She clarified that imported fruits (apples, grapes, oranges) fall under the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), stressed collaboration under the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its 2023 implementation plan, and disclosed NAFDAC has been addressing unethical fruit ripening since 2018 by restricting calcium carbide availability alongside public awareness campaigns. (Source: applesbite.com)
