The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerians that all Nestlé infant formula products approved for sale in the country are safe and unaffected by the recent voluntary recall announced by Nestlé UK.
In a statement signed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye,
the Agency explained that the recall involved specific batches of SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula distributed in over 50 countries.
According to NAFDAC, the affected products were withdrawn in the United Kingdom as a precautionary measure due to the possible presence of cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus, which can cause nausea and vomiting.
NAFDAC clarified that the recalled products were UK-manufactured batches that are neither registered by the Agency nor authorised for distribution in Nigeria.
The Agency noted that the SMA range available in Nigeria is produced at Nestlé’s Tuas Factory in Singapore and is fully registered with NAFDAC. These include SMA GOLD 1 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2783), SMA GOLD 2 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2780), and SMA GOLD 3 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2781). It further confirmed that both the SMA and NAN infant formula ranges produced for the Nigerian market are not part of the recalled batches.
NAFDAC said the clarification 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 also warned against the unauthorised importation, online purchase, or personal carriage of unregistered infant nutrition products into the country.
The regulatory body reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through strict product registration, routine surveillance, and post-market monitoring of infant nutrition products.
Members of the public were advised to rely only on verified information from NAFDAC, discard any recalled products if encountered, and report suspected sales to the nearest NAFDAC office or via the toll-free line 0800-162-3322. Adverse events can also be reported through the Agency’s e-reporting platforms.