We Didn’t Advise Nigerians to Avoid Eating Bread – NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has denied issuing any advice urging Nigerians to avoid eating bread, following a misleading report that circulated after a recent statement from the agency.

Roseline Ajayi, NAFDAC’s south-west coordinator, recently addressed concerns regarding the quality of bread sold in markets, noting that some producers have been using saccharine—a substitute for sugar—due to rising costs. Ajayi emphasized that while the agency is aware of the economic challenges faced by producers, NAFDAC would not lower its standards on food safety and quality.

“We are not unmindful of the prevailing economic challenges, but the agency will not compromise its standards,” Ajayi said, stressing the importance of maintaining the safety of regulated products.

Following Ajayi’s comments, a reporter released a video in which they inaccurately claimed that NAFDAC had advised Nigerians to stop eating bread entirely. This claim quickly spread, causing concern among the public.

In response, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s director-general, issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying the agency’s position. “At no time during that engagement with stakeholders did NAFDAC suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria,” Adeyeye said.

She further clarified that the statement made by the reporter in the video was not representative of NAFDAC’s stance. “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,” Adeyeye added.

NAFDAC reassured the public of its commitment to protecting public health and emphasized that it does not make statements that could incite fear or panic.

The agency also issued a warning to bakers, reminding them of the strict regulations surrounding the use of food additives. NAFDAC stated that any baker found using unapproved additives, such as saccharine, would face appropriate sanctions.

“The Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) does not permit the use of saccharine in bread,” the statement noted, citing both national and international food safety standards that prohibit the use of saccharine in bread production.