The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said the infant formulas by Nestle, a multinational food and beverage company in Nigeria, are safe for consumption.
NAFDAC confirmed that the brand of infant formula (baby food) with high sugar content allegedly being circulated across some “poor” countries, including Nigeria, by Nestle, a Swiss food company, is not registered in Nigeria. NAFDAC also stated that the product is not known to the Agency and is not in circulation in the country.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and
shared by the agency’s Director General, Moji Adeyeye, a professor.
In the statement, the regulatory body said products supplied
by the company are often evaluated before distribution to any part of the
country.
This statement is in response to BrandIconImage’ earlier
inquiry into the development.
Backstory
An investigation, carried out by Public Eye, a Swiss
investigative organisation, in collaboration with the International Baby Food
Action Network, a coalition focused on improving maternal and infant health,
revealed that the company added sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal
products sold to Nigeria and other countries.
According to the report, samples of Nestle’s baby food
products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were sent to Belgium for
laboratory testing.
It found traces of sugar, such as sucrose or honey, in
samples of Cerelac, a cereal for children between six months and two years old,
and Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for infants at least
one-year-old.
However, NAFDAC, responding to this, said, “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
international food standards”.
Nido not in Nigeria
NAFDAC said unlike Cerelac, Nido, the follow-up milk formula
by Nestle, was not registered in Nigeria and is not in the country’s market.
The regulatory body said: “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.
“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.”
NAFDAC noted that adequate, optimal nutrition during infancy
and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development
of children to their full potential.
“NAFDAC in recognition of the vulnerability of the target
population, measures are in place to monitor and enforce compliance with the
national and international regulations,” the statement further reads in part.
Nestle Nigeria also denies
Meanwhile, Nestle Nigeria, a subsidiary of Nestle, had also
earlier reacted to this publication.
In its statement, the company denied adding sugar to its
products sold in Nigeria, insisting it is not violating the global guidelines
for infant formulas.
The subsidiary argued that it complies with global
requirements on sugar usage and supplies quality products worldwide.
The company insisted that its principles are aligned with
both international and local guidelines.
It argued that baby formulas in Nigeria for children 0-12 do
not add sugar content.
The agency said: “In Nigeria, our Growing Up Milk has no
added sugars.
“Our milk and cereals for young children are fortified with
vitamins and minerals such as iron to help tackle malnutrition”.