Nigerians At Risk? FCCPC Finds Substandard Food Products, Takes Action Against Manufacturers

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed some food manufacturing facilities in Nigeria following the discovery of vegetable oil and salt products that failed to meet the country’s mandatory food fortification standards.

The enforcement action followed laboratory tests which revealed that some products contained insufficient levels of essential vitamins and minerals required under Nigeria’s food fortification policy.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, disclosed the findings on Thursday while presenting the results of a two-month market survey conducted in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

The survey examined 200 samples of food products, comprising 100 vegetable oil samples and 100 salt samples collected from households and open markets across northern and southern Nigeria.

Laboratory results showed that 12 out of the 100 vegetable oil samples and two of the 100 salt samples failed to contain the required levels of essential micronutrients.

The investigation also uncovered concerns about product identification and monitoring. Of the 100 vegetable oil samples examined, 49 were unbranded, while only 51 carried identifiable brand names.

The survey further revealed limited participation by manufacturers in GAIN’s Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus platform, a system designed to monitor the quality of fortified food products along the supply chain. Only six vegetable oil manufacturers had registered on the platform, while just three companies had uploaded a combined total of eight product test results.

Bello explained that food fortification is a compulsory public health policy designed to address nutritional deficiencies by ensuring that essential vitamins and minerals are added to commonly consumed products. These nutrients include vitamin A, iron, folic acid, zinc and iodine.

He emphasised that consumers deserved to receive the nutritional benefits promised by manufacturers whenever they purchased fortified food products.

The FCCPC boss noted that consumer protection goes beyond addressing complaints and preventing misleading business practices, stressing that it also involves ensuring that Nigerians receive the quality and health benefits for which they pay.

Bello disclosed that the commission had issued compliance directives to manufacturers whose products failed to meet the required standards. He also warned that every batch of food products released into the Nigerian market must comply with established quality and safety requirements.

He added that the survey findings had been forwarded to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further regulatory action.

According to Bello, the collaboration between the FCCPC and NAFDAC is aimed at strengthening consumer protection and ensuring that food manufacturers comply with existing safety and quality regulations.