The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerians that all Nestlé infant formula products approved for sale in the country are safe for consumption.
The agency explained that the products available in Nigeria were not affected by the recent voluntary recall announced by Nestlé UK, which involved specific batches of SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula distributed in more than 50 countries.
“NAFDAC clarifies that the recalled products are UK batches withdrawn as a precaution due to the potential presence of cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus, which may cause nausea and vomiting.
These affected batches were not registered by NAFDAC and are not authorised for distribution in Nigeria,” the agency stated in a release signed by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, on Monday.
NAFDAC further confirmed that the SMA products sold in Nigeria are manufactured at Nestlé’s Tuas Factory in Singapore and are properly registered with the agency. These include SMA GOLD 1 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2783), SMA GOLD 2 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2780), and SMA GOLD 3 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2781).
The agency also reiterated that both the SMA and NAN infant nutrition ranges produced for the Nigerian market are not among the recalled batches.
“This notice is issued in the interest of public health and in line with NAFDAC’s mandate to keep Nigerians informed of global food safety developments, while maintaining vigilance against unauthorised importation, online purchases, or personal carriage of unregistered products.
“The agency continues strict regulatory oversight through product registration, routine surveillance, and post-market monitoring of infant nutrition products.
“NAFDAC remains fully committed to safeguarding the health of Nigerians, particularly infants and other vulnerable groups.”
NAFDAC advised members of the public to rely solely on verified information from the agency, properly dispose of any recalled products if found, and report suspected sales to the nearest NAFDAC office or via 0800-162-3322.
It also encouraged Nigerians to report any adverse events through its official e-reporting platforms.