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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said it uncovered inadequately fortified vegetable oil and salt products in Nigerian markets, raising concerns over compliance with the country’s mandatory food fortification policy.
A survey conducted by the Commission in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) found that 12 per cent of vegetable oil samples and two per cent of salt samples examined were inadequately fortified.
In a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC said improved product traceability would benefit consumers and businesses by making it easier to identify quality concerns, promote transparency and enable manufacturers and regulators to address problems across the supply chain.
The two-month study, carried out in randomly selected markets and households across northern and southern Nigeria, analysed 200 samples, comprising 100 vegetable oil and 100 salt samples.
The survey adopted a Household Food Fortification Survey methodology, complemented by the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform, to monitor and improve the traceability of fortified food products.
Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) involves adding essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine, to commonly consumed food products during industrial processing to address micronutrient deficiencies and reduce hidden hunger.
The national food policy mandates manufacturers to fortify their products to improve public health, particularly among children and women of reproductive age.
Findings from the survey showed that 49 of the 100 vegetable oil samples were unbranded, while 51 were branded products.
Among the branded vegetable oils, Devon Kings accounted for 19 samples, Power Oil 12, Activa four, and Golden Penny and Laziz Oil three each, while other brands, including Mamador, Lasor Oil, Golden Terra, Canola, Primo, Zimzitana, Ayarah, Sim, Tadenkey and Okli, accounted for one sample each.
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For salt, 19 samples were unbranded, while 81 were branded, comprising 71 samples of Mr Chef and 10 of Dangote.
Beyond the inadequate fortification identified in some products, the Commission raised concerns over the limited participation of manufacturers in the DFQT+ platform developed by GAIN to improve the tracking of fortified food products from production to consumption.
It disclosed that only six vegetable oil producers had registered on the platform, while just eight results belonging to three of the six companies were uploaded out of the 100 vegetable oil sample results analysed.
Consequently, the Commission said it had issued directives compelling defaulting producers to comply with the relevant requirements.
It also urged manufacturers, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), to embrace product registration and digital traceability to strengthen quality assurance and accountability across the food supply chain.
Commenting on the findings, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said consumers should be able to trust the quality of the products they purchase and the benefits such products are expected to deliver.
Bello said consumer protection went beyond resolving complaints and addressing harmful business practices, stressing that it also involved ensuring that consumers received the value and benefits they were entitled to expect from products in the marketplace.
He further emphasised that manufacturers had a responsibility to maintain appropriate quality standards and ensure that their products complied with applicable regulations.
The Commission disclosed that it had also escalated 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.
