By Chinasaokwu Helen okoro
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has dismissed a viral video claiming that Nigerians should avoid bread due to the use of saccharine in bread production.
The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye in a statement made available to PUNCH Healthwise, stated that the video, which has been circulating on social media, does not reflect the agency’s observation during a stakeholders’ engagement held on August 16, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State
A video by one reporter circulating on social media stated that NAFDAC had raised a concern that most of the bread in the market is failing laboratory tests due to the fact that producers are using saccharine to bake bread more than they are using sugar due to the high cost of sugar.
However, Adeyeye in the statement dissociated the agency from the reporter’s comment in the video, reassuring the public that NAFDAC is fully alive to its responsibilities.
The DG insisted that the agency did not suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria, contrary to the reporter’s claim in the video.
The NAFDAC boss, however, noted that the use of saccharine in bread is not permitted by the Nigerian Industrial Standard and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives.
She assured the public that it remains committed to safeguarding their health and would take appropriate action against any baker found using unapproved food additives, including saccharine.
She noted, “At no time during that engagement with stakeholders did NAFDAC suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria.
“The Agency is a responsible regulator and does not make general statements capable of causing panic and fear in the population.
“Any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharine, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions.
“The Nigerian Industrial Standard does not permit the use of saccharine in bread. This is the same for the Codex General Standard for Food Additives, an authoritative reference point for food additives, which also does not permit the use of saccharine in bread. Like other food additives, sweeteners usually undergo thorough risk assessments for safety by an Expert Body, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives before approval for use.
“NAFDAC dissociates herself from the comment of the reporter in the circulating video about avoiding bread in Nigeria.
“This is the personal statement of the reporter who does not speak for the Agency. NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that the Agency remains fully alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public.”
Adeyeye urged Nigerians to disregard the video and continue consuming bread from reputable sources, assuring them that it would continue to monitor and regulate the food industry to ensure compliance with safety standard.
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