The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has distanced itself from a viral list circulating on social media that claims to identify fake, adulterated and substandard products being sold in Nigeria.
The agency clarified that the list did not originate from it and should not be regarded as an official warning, product recall notice or public safety announcement.
NAFDAC made the clarification in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Thursday through its Resident Media Consultant, Olusayo Akintola.
The agency explained that it follows established regulatory procedures before declaring any product fake, unsafe, adulterated or below the required quality standards.
According to NAFDAC, these procedures include conducting investigations, collecting product samples and carrying out scientific laboratory tests to determine whether the products meet the required safety and quality standards.
The agency stressed that products cannot be declared fake or dangerous based solely on claims circulating on social media, adding that such allegations must be supported by verifiable evidence before an official conclusion can be reached.
NAFDAC further explained that its official announcements concerning unsafe or substandard products usually contain specific information that enables consumers, businesses and other stakeholders to verify the claims.
It noted that whenever a product or a particular batch is confirmed to be falsified, adulterated, substandard or unsafe, the agency provides relevant details and communicates the necessary regulatory actions through its recognised official channels.
The agency warned Nigerians against treating unverified social media posts as authoritative information, particularly when such claims concern the safety and authenticity of products available in the Nigerian market.
It also cautioned that circulating unconfirmed information could create unnecessary panic, mislead consumers and cause confusion among members of the public.
NAFDAC therefore urged Nigerians to disregard the viral list and stop sharing it until the claims are properly verified through credible and official sources.
The agency emphasised that the appearance of a product’s name or photograph on a social media post does not automatically mean that the product is fake, adulterated or dangerous.
It maintained that scientific investigations and established regulatory procedures remain necessary to determine the authenticity and safety of any product.
The clarification comes amid concerns over the circulation of information about allegedly fake products online, with NAFDAC reiterating the importance of relying on verified announcements from the agency when seeking information about product safety in Nigeria.
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