The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) has denied declaring Nigerian bread unsafe for consumption.
In a statement on Tuesday, NAFDAC Director-General Moji Adeyeye said the agency did not express concern over the quality of bread produced in Nigeria as claimed in a viral video.
In the viral video referenced, a journalist claimed that the agency said breads sold in Nigeria fail laboratory tests because producers bake them using saccharin as an alternative to sugar.
However, the agency said this claim is a misrepresentation of a statement made by the official mentioned in the video.
Speaking at an event in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on August 16, NAFDAC South West Coordinator Roseline Ajayi said “breads sold in the markets do not pass laboratory tests” due to the use of saccharin.
The official, however, did not specify whether the problem was national or limited to the southwest region.
Mrs Adeyeye, on Tuesday, debunked the bias given to the NAFDAC official's comment.
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“The video does not reflect the observations of NAFDAC during the stakeholder engagement on August 16, 2024 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“We firmly distance ourselves from the misleading statements in the video and assure the public that NAFDAC remains committed to its role in safeguarding the health of the nation.
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“The statements made by the journalist are personal opinions and do not reflect the position of NAFDAC,” Ms Adeyee said.
'Don't use saccharin in bread'
He also noted that the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) prohibit the use of saccharin in bread.
“Any baker who uses unapproved additives, such as saccharin, will be penalized in accordance with current regulatory provisions.
“The agency stresses that at no point did it advise Nigerians to avoid bread produced in the country,” Ms Adeyeye added.