Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has revealed that some vegetable oil and salt products sampled from Nigerian markets and households failed to meet the country’s food fortification standards.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commission disclosed that 12 per cent of vegetable oil samples and two per cent of salt samples examined during a two-month survey were inadequately fortified.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC said the assessment was conducted in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) across randomly selected markets and households in northern and southern Nigeria.
According to the commission, the analysis covered 200 samples, comprising 100 vegetable oil and 100 salt samples.
It disclosed that 49 of the vegetable oil samples were unbranded, while 51 carried identifiable brand names. Among the branded products, Devon Kings accounted for 19 samples, Power Oil 12, Activa four, while Golden Penny and Laziz Oil had three samples each.
For salt, 19 samples were unbranded, while 81 carried identifiable brands, comprising 71 samples of Mr Chef and 10 of Dangote.
FCCPC also identified poor participation by manufacturers in the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform, developed by GAIN to monitor fortified food products from production to consumption.
It said only six vegetable oil producers had registered on the platform, while just eight results from three of the registered companies were uploaded among the 100 vegetable oil samples analysed.
The commission said it had issued directives compelling manufacturers whose products failed to meet the required standards to comply with the regulations.
It also referred the findings to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action, in line with the memorandum of understanding between both agencies.
Commenting on the findings, FCCPC Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said consumers should be able to trust the quality of products they purchase and the benefits they are expected to provide.
He stressed that consumer protection extended beyond resolving complaints and addressing harmful business practices to ensuring that buyers received the value and benefits expected from products in the marketplace.
The commission explained that food fortification involves adding essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine, to commonly consumed foods during industrial processing.
The initiative is aimed at addressing micronutrient deficiencies and reducing hidden hunger, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and women of reproductive age.
FCCPC urged manufacturers, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to embrace product registration and digital traceability systems to strengthen quality monitoring and accountability.
It also encouraged consumers to pay attention to fortified food products and ensure their proper handling and storage.
