NAFDAC Maintains No Sales of High-Sugar Infant Formula in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated that the Nido follow-up milk formula mentioned in the investigative report against the global food giant Nestle is not registered in Nigeria, not familiar to the Agency, and not available in the country.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Christianah Adeyeye, in a press statement titled "Nestle Adds Sugar to Infant Milk Sold in poorer Countries: NAFDACS Response", explained that the Nestle Cerelac infant cereals distributed in Nigeria were registered with NAFDAC in accordance with the Nigerian Industrial Standard for Foods for Infants and Young Children – Processed Cereal Based foods (NIS 256:2010) and the Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CXS 74-1981 adopted in 1981, revised in 2006, amended in 2017, 2019, and 2023), as well as the applicable NAFDAC regulations for safety, quality, and labeling compliance.

Reassuring Nigerians, Adeyeye stated that NAFDAC conducts due regulatory diligence in registering infant and young children foods distributed and used in Nigeria.

Parts of the statement indicate that the Management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has noted a media report circulated widely on social media. The report alleges that Nestle, the world's largest consumer goods company, adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products in many poorer countries, going against international guidelines to prevent obesity and chronic diseases.

Samples of baby food products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were tested, according to the report. Results of analysis and examination of product packaging showed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido and Cerelac.

The statement continues, “Regarding the mention of Nido follow-up milk formula in the publication, NAFDAC wishes to state that the product is not registered in Nigeria, is not known to the Agency and is not in circulation in Nigeria."

The director General further mentioned that on 22 March 2024, the Agency conducted a stakeholders engagement with members of the Association of Infant Food Manufacturers and Marketers in Nigeria (AIFMN), facilitated by the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) Directorate to stress the importance and special place of infant and young child nutrition.