The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified its stance on recent statements that were interpreted as a warning against the consumption of bread in Nigeria.

The clarification came after Roseline Ajayi, NAFDAC’s South-West Coordinator, spoke about the use of saccharine in bread production, mentioning that some bakers had turned to this substitute due to the high cost of sugar.

“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,” Ajayi stated.

Following Ajayi’s remarks, a video by a reporter suggested that Nigerians should avoid eating bread altogether, a claim that quickly spread online. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, responded on Tuesday with a statement to set the record straight.

“At no time during that engagement with stakeholders did NAFDAC suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria,” Adeyeye clarified. She stressed that the content of the video did not accurately represent NAFDAC’s official position.

“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. NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that the Agency remains fully alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public,” Adeyeye added.

The agency further warned bakers against using unapproved additives, emphasizing that the use of saccharine in bread is illegal. “Any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharine, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions,” the statement noted. NAFDAC reaffirmed that the use of saccharine in bread is not allowed under the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA).

Concluding her statement, Adeyeye assured the public that NAFDAC conducts thorough risk assessments to ensure the safety of food additives. “The Agency is a responsible regulator and does not make general statements capable of causing panic and fear in the population,” she affirmed.