The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerians that Nestlé infant formula sold in the country is safe and not affected by the recent product recall announced by Nestlé UK.
The assurance was contained in a public notice signed by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director General, following public concern triggered by the UK recall of certain SMA infant formula batches.
NAFDAC explained that the UK recall was a precautionary measure linked to concerns about the possible presence of cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus, which can cause nausea and vomiting.
The agency stressed that none of the affected batches are registered or authorised for sale in Nigeria.
According to NAFDAC, all SMA infant formula sold locally is manufactured at Nestlé’s Tuas Factory in Singapore and is fully registered with the agency. These include:
- SMA GOLD 1 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2783)
- SMA GOLD 2 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2780)
- SMA GOLD 3 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2781)
NAFDAC added that it has verified that both SMA and NAN infant formula products available in Nigeria are not part of the recalled batches announced in the UK.
Earlier in January, Nestlé announced a voluntary recall of specific batches of SMA infant formula and follow-on milk in over 50 countries after routine checks flagged a potential safety issue. UK and European regulators published affected batch codes and advised parents not to use the products.
The announcement raised concerns among Nigerian consumers, prompting NAFDAC’s clarification.
