The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) sealed the manufacturing facilities of several food companies after a two‑month market survey revealed that a significant proportion of vegetable oil and salt sold in Nigeria were not fortified with the required micronutrients.
The survey, carried out in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), analysed 200 randomly selected samples – 100 vegetable oils and 100 salts – collected from households and open markets across northern and southern Nigeria. Laboratory testing showed that 12 % of the oil samples and 2 % of the salt samples were inadequately fortified at the household level.
Of the 100 oil samples, 49 were unbranded and 51 were branded, including Devon King’s, Power Oil, Activa, Golden Penny, Laziz, Mamador and Golden Terra. For salt, 19 samples were unbranded and 81 were branded, with 71 from Mr Chef and 10 from Dangote.
The investigation also highlighted gaps in the use of digital traceability systems. Only six oil manufacturers had registered on GAIN’s Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform, and just three companies uploaded a combined eight product test results out of the 100 oil samples analysed.
Fortification is a mandatory public‑health policy that requires food processors to enrich staple products with vitamin A, iron, folic acid, zinc and iodine. The policy aims to tackle hidden hunger and nutritional deficiencies among young children and women of reproductive age.
Following the findings, the FCCPC issued compliance directives to the defaulting manufacturers and urged micro, small and medium‑sized enterprises to adopt digital registration and supply‑chain traceability. The commission will also launch consumer‑awareness initiatives to educate Nigerians on proper product handling and storage. The survey results have been forwarded to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further regulatory action.
“Consumers must be able to trust the quality of the products they buy and the health benefits those products are advertised to provide. Consumer protection goes beyond resolving everyday complaints or halting deceptive business practices. It fundamentally comes down to ensuring that citizens are not denied the essential value, safety and nutritional benefits they pay for in the marketplace,” said Tunji Bello, Vice‑Chairman and CEO of the FCCPC.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
