NAFDAC seals warehouse in Niger state over ‘illegal’ bulk sale of banned additive

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed a warehouse in Suleja, Niger state, over the alleged illegal sale of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food additive banned from bulk importation due to health risks.

The action comes on the heels of a recent TheCable investigation, which uncovered the influx of unregulated MSG in northern markets, including Kano and Katsina.

The report exposed how the additive was being distributed in transparent nylons without NAFDAC approval, with traders unaware of the potential health risks.

According to NAN on Tuesday, Kenneth Azikiwe, director of the federal capital territory (FCT) NAFDAC office, said the raid was conducted under the directive of Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s director-general, as part of efforts to safeguard public health.

Items recovered included banned foreign spaghetti brands such as Doga and Roca, as well as counterfeit toothpaste products like Bamboo Charcoal, Crogate, and Cloguide, all mimicking established brands like Colgate.

Azikiwe said while MSG, also known as “White Maggi”, a sodium-based additive, is allowed in small, regulated quantities for food reprocessing, its bulk importation and unregulated sale in the country have been banned.

“While small, regulated quantities are allowed for reprocessing, bulk sales to unregulated vendors pose significant health risks,” he said.

The director warned that prolonged consumption of such repackaged additives could damage vital organs and contribute to the rise of chronic illnesses in the country.

He also urged the public to avoid buying unregistered or repackaged food additives and to always check for NAFDAC registration numbers for their safety.

Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, an intelligence and enforcement officer with the agency, estimated the market value of the confiscated products at N47.5 million.