FCCPC Orders Corrective Action After Oil and Salt Samples Fail Fortification Tests
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has ordered corrective action after laboratory testing found that some vegetable oil and salt samples sold in Nigeria failed to meet mandatory food-fortification standards.
The Commission said it assessed 200 samples—100 vegetable oil samples and 100 salt samples—during a two-month exercise conducted with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. Twelve per cent of the vegetable oils and two per cent of the salts did not meet the required fortification levels.
Food fortification involves adding essential micronutrients to widely consumed products. Nigeria’s standards are intended to help reduce deficiencies involving nutrients such as vitamin A, iron, folic acid, zinc and iodine.
FCCPC Executive Vice-Chairman Tunji Bello said consumers should receive the nutritional value and safety benefits advertised by manufacturers. The Commission issued compliance directives to businesses operating below the required standard and forwarded its findings to NAFDAC for further regulatory action.
Some reports said facilities linked to non-compliance were sealed, although the Commission did not publicly identify the affected manufacturers in the material reviewed by MBTV. Consumers should therefore avoid circulating unverified brand names.
Sources: Punch Newspapers; Vanguard.
Featured image: Trnava University/Unsplash, used as a general laboratory illustration.
