The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed manufacturing facilities belonging to food companies found to have failed to meet Nigeria’s mandatory food fortification standards.
The enforcement action followed a two-month market survey which revealed that some vegetable oil and salt products sold across the country contained insufficient levels of essential micronutrients.
The FCCPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, disclosed the findings on Thursday, warning manufacturers that the commission would intensify monitoring and enforcement against businesses that disregard national food quality requirements.
Survey Finds Fortification Failures in Oil and Salt
The assessment, conducted in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), examined 200 randomly selected samples collected from households and open markets across northern and southern Nigeria.
The samples comprised 100 vegetable oil products and 100 salt products.
Laboratory results showed that 12 per cent of the vegetable oil samples and two per cent of the salt samples were inadequately fortified with essential micronutrients at household level.
The survey covered both branded and unbranded products. Among the oil samples were products bearing brands such as Devon King’s, Power Oil, Activa, Golden Penny, Laziz, Mamador and Golden Terra.
The salt samples included products from Mr Chef and Dangote, alongside unbranded varieties.
The findings did not mean that every product from the named brands had failed the tests; the results related to the specific samples examined.
FCCPC Raises Concern Over Poor Product Tracking
Beyond the fortification failures, the commission identified gaps in the use of digital systems designed to track fortified food products from manufacturing plants to retail outlets.
According to Bello, only six vegetable oil manufacturers had registered on the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus platform, while three companies uploaded a combined total of just eight product test results out of the 100 oil samples analysed.
He stressed that food fortification was a mandatory public health measure intended to tackle micronutrient deficiencies, including those affecting children and women of reproductive age.
The policy requires relevant food processors to enrich staple products with essential nutrients such as vitamin A, iron, folic acid, zinc and iodine, depending on the product and applicable standards.
Bello maintained that manufacturers had a legal responsibility to ensure every batch of their products met the required quality and safety benchmarks.
NAFDAC Receives Findings for Further Action
The FCCPC said compliance directives had been issued to manufacturers found to be in default.
It also confirmed that the survey findings had been forwarded to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further regulatory action under the agencies’ existing cooperation framework.
The commission urged micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt digital registration and supply-chain traceability systems to improve quality assurance.
It also plans to launch consumer awareness campaigns on the proper handling and storage of fortified foods to help preserve their nutritional value.
The enforcement exercise underscores the importance of regulatory compliance and transparent product monitoring in protecting consumers and ensuring that Nigerians receive the nutritional benefits advertised on food products.
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