The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disowned a viral list circulating on social media that purports to identify products in the Nigerian market as fake, adulterated or substandard.
In a statement signed by its Director-General/CEO, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Friday, NAFDAC stated that the list did not originate from the Agency and should not be regarded as an official regulatory alert, recall notice or safety communication.
The regulatory body explained that it does not declare products fake, adulterated or unsafe without following due regulatory processes, including investigations, sampling and, where necessary, scientific and laboratory verification.
It urged members of the public to disregard the viral list and refrain from sharing or amplifying the unverified information, stressing that such misinformation could cause unnecessary public concern and unfairly damage the reputations and business interests of legitimate manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
NAFDAC noted that its official public alerts serve as reference resources for consumers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to identify products requiring regulatory attention and avoid potential harm.
The Agency emphasised that it would continue to issue alerts, conduct market surveillance, and take enforcement action, including the destruction of affected products, where investigations and scientific assessments establish the need for regulatory intervention.
It said that the appearance of a product name or photograph on a social media list does not constitute an official finding that the product is fake or unsafe.
NAFDAC further advised Nigerians and other stakeholders to rely on the Agency’s official communication channels for accurate information on product alerts, recalls, withdrawals, suspensions, and other regulatory actions.
The regulatory body provided 0700-1-NAFDAC (0700-1-623322) for enquiries. Complaints can be made through 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322) or by email at sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
