The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has responded to the investigative report that implicated Nestle, the largest global consumer goods company, saying the mentioned Nido, a follow-up milk formula for infants aged one and above, is not registered in Nigeria, not known to the agency and not in circulation in Nigeria.
A publication of the findings of an investigation conducted by the Public Eye published on 17 April and circulated on social media had stated that “Nestle adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries, contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases”.
The report goes further to state that samples of baby food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America were tested and results of analysis, and examination of product packaging revealed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for use for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years.
Pharmanewsonline.com reports that the NAFDAC’s statement on the issue, signed by its Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye aligns with Nestle’s stand, as revealed by its CCPA & Sustainability Lead, Nigeria, Mrs Victoria Uwadoka, who insisted that the company does not add sugars in the form of sucrose and glucose to infant formulas for children aged 0-12 months.
In a chat with Pharmanewsonline, she said “Like everywhere in the world, in Nigeria, we do not add sugars (sucrose and glucose) to infant formulas for children aged 0-12 months.
“In Nigeria, our Growing Up Milks have no added sugars. Our milks and cereals for young children are fortified with vitamins and minerals such as iron to help tackle malnutrition”.
According to Prof. Adeyeye in a statement on Sunday, “Regarding the mention of Nido follow-up milk formula in the publication, NAFDAC wishes to state that the product is not registered in Nigeria, is not known to the Agency and is not in circulation in Nigeria.
“The range of Nestle Cerelac infant cereals distributed in Nigeria are duly registered with NAFDAC in line with the Nigerian Industrial Standard for Foods for Infants and Young Children – Processed Cereal Based foods (NIS 256:2010) and the Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CXS 74-1981 adopted in 1981, revised in 2006, amended in 2017, 2019, and 2023), as well as the applicable NAFDAC regulations for compliance with safety, quality, and labelling requirements. The scope of the standards covers processed cereal-based foods intended for feeding infants as complementary food from the age of six (6) months.
“The Management of NAFDAC wishes to use this medium to reassure the public that the agency exercises due regulatory diligence in the registration of infant and young children foods distributed and used in Nigeria in line with relevant Codex Alimentarius international food standards (Codex) and more specifically, Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS). This is applicable to all categories of infant and young children foods distributed by manufacturers, importers, and marketers of infant and young children foods operating within Nigeria”.
The NAFDAC DG further explained that infant and young children’s foods are strictly regulated by the agency in recognition of the vulnerability of the target population and measures are in place to monitor and enforce compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and the national regulations – Marketing of Infant and Young Children Food and other Designated Products (Registration, Sales,etc.) Regulations.
She reassured the public on the agency’s readiness in performing her responsibilities of ensuring the safety, wholesomeness and quality of infant and young children foods offered for sale in Nigeria in compliance with the relevant standards and regulations.
