The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the proliferation of substandard bread and other regulated products in markets across the South West region.
The warning came during a stakeholders engagement meeting held on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, NAFDAC’s South West coordinator, revealed that recent laboratory tests conducted on bread samples from local markets yielded concerning results.
“Recently, we observed that bread sold in the markets is failing laboratory tests because producers are using saccharine due to the high cost of sugar.
“They are introducing ingredients that are not good for the health of the consumers,” said Ajayi.
The agency’s concern extends beyond bakery products. Ajayi disclosed that recent operations uncovered patent medicine dealers selling restricted drugs and unregistered products.
Additionally, some manufacturers were found to be non-compliant with packaging and storage standards.
While acknowledging the current economic challenges, Ajayi said NAFDAC would not compromise its standards.
“We are not unmindful of the prevailing economic challenges, but the agency will not compromise its standards.
“It is pertinent to note that the quality and safety of regulated products cannot be compromised,” she asserted.
The engagement meeting sought to foster collaboration between NAFDAC and relevant stakeholders to better safeguard public health.
Mr. Moses Adewole, Oyo State Director of Pharmaceutical Services, urged medicine sellers to operate within their expertise and warned against the sale of expired drugs, equating it to distributing poison.