The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has reassured Nigerians, especially parents, that all Nestlé infant formulae approved in Nigeria are safe.
In a statement on Monday, NAFDAC’s director-general, Mojisola Adeyeye, said approved products were not included in Nestlé UK’s voluntary recall across over 50 countries.
“The approved infant formulae marketed in Nigeria are not part of the voluntary recall announced by Nestlé UK,” Ms Adeyeye said.
She explained the recall followed the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting if ingested.
According to Ms Adeyeye, cereulide is a highly heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
Ms Adeyeye said the SMA range sold in Nigeria is manufactured at Nestlé Tuas Factory in Singapore and is duly registered with NAFDAC.
She listed the products as SMA Gold 1, SMA Gold 2, and SMA Gold 3, each with a valid NAFDAC registration number.
NAFDAC said it verified that SMA and NAN infant formulae produced for Nigeria are not among the affected batches that have been recalled elsewhere.
“The alert was issued purely as a precaution, in line with our duty to keep Nigerians informed of global food safety concerns,” she said.
Ms Adeyeye warned that risks from unauthorised imports, online purchases, or personal carriage during travel cannot be ruled out entirely.
She said NAFDAC maintains strict oversight through product registration, routine surveillance, and post-market monitoring of infant nutrition products.
The NAFDAC boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting public health, particularly that of infants and other vulnerable groups.
“Nigerians should rely only on verified information from NAFDAC and relevant authorities,” Ms Adeyeye advised.
She urged the public to discard any recalled products found and report suspected sales or distribution to the nearest NAFDAC office.
(NAN)