The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed manufacturers of vegetable oil and salt whose products failed to meet required fortification levels to comply with Nigeria’s national food standards.
The directive followed a two-month assessment conducted in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), which uncovered deficiencies in the fortification of some food products sampled from markets and households across the country.
During the exercise, 200 samples were analysed, comprising 100 vegetable oil samples and 100 salt samples. The findings revealed that 12 per cent of the vegetable oil samples and two per cent of the salt samples failed to meet the required fortification standards.
The assessment covered randomly selected markets and households in both northern and southern Nigeria.
The commission also identified poor participation by manufacturers in a digital monitoring platform designed to track fortified food products from production to consumption.
According to the findings, only six vegetable oil manufacturers had registered on the platform, while just eight results from three of the six companies were uploaded among the 100 vegetable oil samples examined.
The FCCPC said it had consequently issued directives compelling the affected producers to comply with the applicable standards.
The commission also urged manufacturers, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to register their products and adopt digital traceability systems to improve monitoring and regulatory compliance.
Speaking on the findings, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, stressed that consumers deserved confidence in the quality of products they purchased and the nutritional benefits they were expected to provide.
He maintained that manufacturers had a responsibility to uphold quality standards and ensure their products complied with relevant regulations.
Food fortification involves adding essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine, to commonly consumed foods during processing. The practice is intended to prevent micronutrient deficiencies and reduce hidden hunger, particularly among young children and women of reproductive age.
The FCCPC disclosed that it had also referred the findings to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action under an existing agreement between both agencies.
The commission urged consumers to pay attention to fortified food products and ensure they were properly handled and stored.
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