NAFDAC-Approved Nestlé Baby Foods Sold in Nigeria are Safe—DG

News in brief:

-NAFDAC confirms recalled Nestlé infant formulae are not authorised for sale in Nigeria.

-Approved SMA and NAN products sold locally are registered and manufactured in Singapore.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has reassured Nigerians that all Nestlé infant formulae approved for sale in the country are safe for consumption.

The agency said the reassurance follows a recent voluntary recall announced by Nestlé UK involving specific batches of SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula distributed in more than 50 countries.

According to NAFDAC, the recalled products are not authorised for sale in Nigeria and do not affect the Nigerian market.

UK Recall Linked to Precautionary Measures

In a statement signed by the Director General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency explained that the recall in the United Kingdom was a precautionary action due to the potential presence of cereulide.

Cereulide is a heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus and may cause symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

NAFDAC stressed that the affected batches were neither registered nor approved for distribution in Nigeria.

Approved Products Manufactured in Singapore

The food authority confirmed that the SMA range marketed in Nigeria is manufactured at Nestlé’s Tuas Factory in Singapore and is duly registered with NAFDAC.

Approved products include SMA GOLD 1 with NAFDAC Registration Number B1-2783, SMA GOLD 2 with Registration Number B1-2780, and SMA GOLD 3 with Registration Number B1-2781.

It also stated that both the SMA and NAN infant formula ranges produced for the Nigerian market are not part of the recalled batches.

Agency Urges Vigilance and Reporting

NAFDAC said the notice was issued in the interest of public health and in line with its mandate to keep Nigerians informed of global food safety developments.

The agency warned against unauthorised importation, online purchases, or personal carriage of unregistered infant nutrition products into the country.

It added that strict regulatory oversight remains in place through product registration, routine surveillance and post-market monitoring.

NAFDAC urged members of the public to rely only on verified information from the agency, discard any recalled products if encountered, and report suspected sales to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Consumers were also advised to report adverse events through NAFDAC’s e-reporting platforms or via the agency’s contact line.