The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Moji Adeyeye, has refuted claims circulating in a viral video suggesting that the agency advised Nigerians to stop eating bread.
The video, which has been widely shared on social media, alleges that NAFDAC has expressed concerns over the safety of bread in Nigeria, particularly regarding the use of saccharine by some bread producers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Adeyeye categorically dismissed the claims made in the video, stating, “The video which suggests that NAFDAC advised Nigerians to avoid bread due to the use of saccharine by some producers, does not reflect the observations of NAFDAC during the stakeholders’ engagement on August 16, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State.”
She explained that while the use of saccharine in bread is not allowed according to the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), NAFDAC has not issued any directive advising the public to avoid bread. “Any baker found using unapproved additives like saccharine will be sanctioned according to the extant regulatory provisions,” she added.
Adeyeye stressed that NAFDAC did not advise Nigerians to avoid bread and that the agency is committed to safeguarding public health. “We strongly dissociate ourselves from the misleading statements in the video and reassure the public that NAFDAC remains committed to its role in safeguarding the health of the nation,” she affirmed.
