Despite the presence of regulatory agencies, the surge of unregistered processed and packaged food products in both physical and online markets presents serious risks to public health and safety.
At a bustling makeshift stall in Oyingbo Market, Lagos, renowned for its wide array of food items, Mr. John Udom, a trader in his late thirties, was busy attending to numerous customers.
With a mix of humor and adept price haggling, he assured each buyer that they would be pleased with their purchases.
After a few minutes of animated negotiations with other customers, he turned to our correspondent and, in the same friendly manner, inquired about the items they wished to buy.
Our correspondent requested various brands of packaged powdered paps, as well as corn and cassava flours.
Seemingly pleased to have a customer with multiple requests, Udom relayed the order to his shop assistant located in the back of the stall.
Moments later, the items were delivered, and the trader proceeded to list the prices for each product.
In a bid to confirm the correctness of the product, this correspondent carefully perused each item for the brand’s name and product labeling, which includes, the declaration of the content of ingredients under composition, expiry or best before and manufacture dating as well as the batch or lot numbers.
According to the Pre-Packaged Food, Water and Ice (Labelling) Regulations 2019 of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, it is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, distribute, advertise, sell, or use a pre-packaged food without a date marking, batch number, registration number, name of the food, brand name, labeling information, list of ingredients, name, address and contact information of the manufacturer or distributor, among other requirements.
Date marking involves a legible display of “the day, month and year of manufacture on the label; when a food must be consumed before a certain date to ensure its safety and quality the “Use-by Date” or “Expiration Date”, the “Best-Before Date” or “Best Quality Before Date” shall be declared.”
Missing NAFDAC REG NO
Still, at Udom’s store, this correspondent discovered that almost all the packaged items lacked a NAFDAC Registration Number, the manufacturer’s details, except cell phone numbers.
The NAFDAC REG NO or NRN is a unique registration number or certificate of registration issued after a product has passed the quality and standard test carried out by the agency.
After the discovery, this correspondent told Udom that the items lacked the numbers.
For example, the powdered pap and fufu (cassava flour) produced by Madam Aloe vera Foods, had no NRN and no product details, except an address of No 1, Market Street, Oyingbo, Lagos State, and a phone number.
A check of NAFDAC’s registration site for the food product brought the result, “No matching records found.”
Surprisingly, Udom’s response showed that he was aware he displayed and sold a range of unregistered products and that such action was a crime prohibited under the NAFDAC Drug and Related Product Labelling Regulations, 2019.
Defending his actions, Udom stated that he chose that path because of the lucrative nature and that the cumbersome process of product registration with NAFDAC forced many traders to sell unregistered products.
The trader would later tell our correspondent that he also produces a cocoyam powder under the brand name, “Grace Cocoyam Flour.”
As it is with Madam Aloe vera Foods, it’s the same with Grace Cocoyam flour.
Udom claimed to have sought product registration from the regulatory body in 2022 but abandoned the process when asked to get an apartment for a business different from his residence.
The school leaver noted that the registration process is both laborious and costly, explaining that the extensive list of requirements often leads struggling traders to postpone registration.
NRN Requirements
According to NAFDAC’s official website, product registration typically takes about 90 days for food items and 120 days for drugs, assuming there are no delays.
Applicants must submit all necessary documents, including an application letter that adheres to NAFDAC’s guidelines, relevant information, a description of the facility, and samples of the products for laboratory analysis, ensuring that all required payments are made promptly.
Regarding Compliance Directives, NAFDAC mandates that clients comply within seven days of issuance; failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the application. Any delays caused by the client will not be included in the 90-day registration timeframe.
“All registration processes begin with the submission of the application (0 days); document verification (10 days); facility inspection/sampling for food (10 days), 20 days for drugs; laboratory analysis for food (30 days), and 40 days for drugs. Final vetting takes 10 days, followed by an approval meeting and issuance of the NAFDAC registration number, which takes an additional 20 days,” the statement added.
Voyage of more discoveries
After encountering Udom, our correspondent conducted investigations across several markets to uncover more unregistered food items.
Among the products found and purchased as evidence were unregistered guinea corn pap powder (330g), bean flour (500g), cassava flour (fufu 500g), and cocoyam flour.
Additionally, items included basmati long grain rice (1kg) marketed for people with diabetes, oats, soybean powder, cornflakes, and coco balls for children.
Our correspondent discovered that consumers of these products are often unaware of their ingredients, which poses significant health risks, particularly for children under five.
The findings indicated that many households are increasingly indifferent to NAFDAC registration numbers and expiration dates, opting instead for unregistered products due to their lower prices.
Experts have raised alarms about the widespread availability and indiscriminate consumption of these products, warning that they could pose serious dangers to health.
Consumers Unconcerned with NRN
Udom, who also sells powdered fufu and cocoyam at Oyingbo Bus Stop, stated, “Our customers know that our products are genuine, which is why they choose to buy from us.
“Many of them have even said that our products are better than some branded options, despite those branded products being more expensive.
“Consumers are seeking affordable products that provide equal or greater satisfaction compared to well-known brands.
“I can tell you that most people who purchase pap, fufu, or cocoyam flour from me don’t even glance at the product details, especially with the cocoyam.
“Their main concern is whether it can thicken their soup, not the NAFDAC number or authenticity. The current situation in the country doesn’t allow anyone to spend money unnecessarily.
“A bucket of cocoyam costs N3,200, while we sell ours for just N100,” he added.
Udom, expressing his frustration with the ongoing economic hardships, pointed out that many of his customers no longer prioritize NAFDAC registration numbers or expiration dates on products.
He remarked that those struggling to feed themselves aren’t checking expiration dates or NAFDAC numbers; they simply take whatever is available.
“Only those who can afford high-quality meals pay attention to such details. The hardship is overwhelming Nigerians, leaving little room for such considerations.
“So, rest assured that my products are not fake; I will register them when I have the funds,” he added.
Infant Suffers Food Poisoning
After her six-month-old son consumed an unregistered sachet of custard, 32-year-old Aaka Igwemba felt as though her entire world had come crashing down.
Within hours of ingesting the custard, her son’s condition worsened, leading to nausea and vomiting, accompanied by a fever.
