The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said an online video on bread circulating on social media does not reflect the agency’s stand.
The online video by a reporter is titled “Bread sold in markets failing laboratory tests, NAFDAC raises fresh alarm”.
The agency, in a statement signed by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, on Tuesday debunked the reporter’s claim that the agency raised concern on the use of saccharine in baking bread.
“ NAFDAC wishes to provide clarification that the content of the video on avoiding bread in Nigeria does not reflect the observation of the agency made during a stakeholders engagement held on Aug.16 in Ibadan”.
She said the agency had at no time raised concern that most bread in the market were failing laboratory tests because bakers were using saccharin to replace sugar due to the high cost.
According to the statement, the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS), does not permit the use of saccharine in bread.
The NAFDAC boss said the same was applicable for the Codex General StandaFood Additives (GSFA), an authoritative reference point for food additives, which also does not permit the use of saccharine in bread.
According to her, like other food additives, sweeteners usually undergo thorough risk assessments for safety by an expert body – the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), before approval for use.
Adeyeye said:”NAFDAC is a responsible regulator and does not make general statements capable of causing panic and fear in the population.
“Any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharine, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions.
“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 NAFDAC and we wishe to reassure the public that the agency remains fully alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public,” she said.