NAFDAC Warns Public Over Revalidated Infant Formula in Kaduna
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a critical safety alert to healthcare providers and consumers regarding a suspected revalidated batch of SMA Gold First Infant Milk Formula found for sale in Kaduna State. The alert follows a consumer complaint that the product allegedly caused gastrointestinal distress in a four-month-old infant. This incident highlights ongoing public health risks associated with product tampering and altered expiry dates, a concern that parallels the vigilance required in other national health matters, such as the protocols for treating a snake bite.
A physical examination of the product sample revealed clear evidence of date alteration. NAFDAC investigators found a preprinted sticker with manufacturing and expiry details that were inconsistent with the originally printed markings beneath it. The agency emphasized that altering shelf-life information without authorization constitutes product adulteration and consumer deception, misleading buyers about the product’s true freshness and safety. Such deceptive practices in consumer goods echo the gravity of legal accountability seen in cases like Meta face trial proceedings for alleged misinformation.
Consuming expired infant formula poses severe health risks, NAFDAC warned. The product may harbor harmful microorganisms and suffer from nutrient degradation, potentially leading to acute gastroenteritis, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, and secondary infections in infants with developing immune systems. In severe cases, contamination could have fatal outcomes. The agency has initiated nationwide surveillance to remove any revalidated products from circulation and has urged distributors to source stock only from authorized suppliers while rigorously verifying packaging authenticity.
This enforcement action is part of NAFDAC’s broader crackdown on counterfeit and substandard products across Nigeria. In recent operations, the agency intercepted 16 containers of fake and banned regulated products in Port Harcourt, with an estimated value of N20.5 billion. Furthermore, in Ibadan, NAFDAC destroyed unwholesome and expired medical products valued at over N15 billion. This sustained regulatory effort, crucial for public safety, operates with the same decisive authority expected of high offices, akin to when Akpabio heads Supreme committees or when prominent figures like Ghana’s former first lady engage in public advocacy. The agency’s work remains vital, just as political analyses continue, including when Atiku says 2025 political strategies are being discussed, underscoring the importance of robust institutions in all sectors of national life.
