The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified issues surrounding a controversial bread product that trended online over claims it did not develop mould after more than two weeks.
The clarification was contained in a statement signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to journalists on Sunday in Abuja.
Adeyeye said the controversy started on April 13 when a social media user alleged that a loaf of bread supplied to her for sale remained free of mould for more than two months.
Although the complainant did not mention the brand or producer, the post went viral and sparked widespread public concern.
According to Adeyeye, Food and Food Integrated Company Limited, producers of BON Bread, later identified the product as theirs and denied the allegation.
She said NAFDAC immediately commenced an investigation to establish the facts and provide the public with evidence-based findings.
The investigation, conducted by the agency’s Greater FCT Directorate, included an inspection of the company’s bakery facility in Abuja on April 20.
“In addition to obtaining bread samples and condiments from the company, the agency also procured samples of the bread from the open market for laboratory analysis on the same day,” she said.
Adeyeye said findings showed that the company began bread production in 2006 and had successfully undergone several product licence renewals without any penalties or recalls.
She said laboratory analysis confirmed that calcium propionate was used as a preservative and that the quantity detected was within the limits specified in the Food Code.
“The calcium propionate content from the test results of the three sets of BON Bread samples taken from both the production facility and the open market were satisfactory.
“The bread samples analysed did not contain objectionable substances, including bromate and non-nutritive sweeteners.
“It should be noted that bread producers are permitted to adopt practices that extend shelf life, provided such practices comply with the Codex Alimentarius, a globally endorsed standard,” she said.
Adeyeye stated that the findings showed Food and Food Integrated Company Limited, producers of BON Bread, had not violated any NAFDAC regulations.
She urged members of the public to report complaints about regulated products directly to NAFDAC offices nationwide or through the agency’s electronic complaint channels and recently launched call centre, instead of resorting to social media first.
This approach, she said, would ensure that such complaints are discreetly and thoroughly investigated.
