The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to a suspected revalidated batch of SMA Gold First Infant Milk Formula (900 grams) being sold in Kaduna State.
In a post on its official X handle on Sunday, NAFDAC said the suspected product was found with altered expiry dates and was linked to infant gastrointestinal distress in a four-month-old baby after consumption.
The agency disclosed that the four-month-old infant’s diarrhoea case points to possible product deterioration, which risks acute gastroenteritis, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance in infants. Other potential risks include malnutrition due to compromised nutritional content, secondary infections in immunocompromised infants, and fatal outcomes in severe cases if contaminated with pathogenic bacteria.
According to the agency, a physical examination of the complained-about product sample revealed clear indicators of date marking alteration. The manufacturing and expiry dates on the top preprinted sticker were inconsistent with the underlying, originally printed version, confirming suspicions of revalidation and tampering.
NAFDAC noted that SMA Gold Infant Formula is a nutritionally complete, whey-dominant formula designed to mirror the nutritional profile of breast milk for babies from birth to six months.
The agency stressed that the integrity of the product depends on compliance with regulatory requirements, and any alteration or extension of shelf life without regulatory approval poses significant risks to public health.
NAFDAC warned that revalidating infant formula dates is a serious violation that risks adulteration, consumer deception, and public health harm. It added that expired formulas can harbor microbes and lose nutrients, endangering infants with vulnerable immune systems.
The agency disclosed that the revalidated SMA Gold formula is a Nestlé product with batch number 22939510A1206 07:35, bearing a revalidated manufacture date of January 20, 2025, and expiry date of January 20, 2027.
Its investigation revealed that the original manufacturing date of the revalidated formula is May 28, 2023, with an original expiration date of May 28, 2025, and NAFDAC Registration No. B1-2783.
NAFDAC said it remains committed to safeguarding public health and will continue surveillance activities to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of all NAFDAC-regulated products circulating in Nigeria.
It added that all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the revalidated product if found within their zones and states.
The agency advised distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to exercise caution and vigilance throughout the supply chain to prevent the distribution, sale, and use of the product.
It also urged that all packaged food and medical products should be obtained from authorized suppliers, with authenticity and physical condition carefully checked.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard or falsified regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office, call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322, or send an email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
