The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sent a clear warning to bakeries across Nigeria. The agency cautioned against using harmful chemicals, including saccharin and bromate, in the production of bread.
Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, explained the dangers of these substances. She stressed that bakeries found using them will face strict legal actions.
Both saccharin and bromate are harmful to human health. Bromate, often used as a bread improver, has been linked to serious health issues like cancer. Saccharin, a sweetener, may also pose risks when consumed in large amounts.
NAFDAC urged bakers to use only approved, safe ingredients and follow strict food safety guidelines to protect public health. This warning serves as a reminder for bakeries to prioritize consumer well-being and avoid shortcuts that could harm lives.
By avoiding these harmful substances, bakeries can ensure safer, healthier bread for everyone.
“This is where our post-marketing surveillance comes in.
” We go out routinely to look for certain products; sometimes it may be due to complaints through our reform office.
“We have closed down a few bakeries because they are using bromate during bread production.
” If we find out, or someone suspected or tasted the bread and it has bromate, we will shut the bakery down.
“We have equally closed down many water-producing factories as a result of substandard production or producing it in an unhygienic environment.
“Our Regulatory Inspection Directorate is important to us because it ensures that what is brought to us at the point of registration is what is still in the market.
“When we inspect at the beginning, we go there and take samples and test the product
”Sometimes after they know that the product has been registered, they start changing the process of production or formula.
“This is why post-marketing surveillance monitoring is very important.
”It ensures that what they brought to us is still what is in the market to maintain the standard.
”That is what is called market control,” she said.
