By Miriam Humbe
Some vegetable oil and salt samples collected from Nigerian markets were found to be inadequately fortified during a survey conducted by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC Director, Corporate Affairs disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
The study, undertaken in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), was carried out in random markets and homes in the northern and southern parts of the country over a two-month period.
The methodology adopted included a Household Food Fortification Survey, complemented by the use of the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform to support the monitoring and traceability of fortified food products.
Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) is the practice of deliberately adding essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine to widely consumed staple foods and condiments during industrial processing.
The LSSF is intended to address micronutrient deficiencies and reduce the prevalence of hidden hunger. This is a public health issue which affects people globally, including pre-school children and women of reproductive age.
The national food policy mandates manufacturers to fortify their products.
The results of the analysis of 200 samples (comprising 100 each of vegetable oil and salt) in the study by FCCPC and GAIN showed that 12 percent of the oil and 2 percent of the salt were inadequately fortified at the household level.
Among the 100 vegetable oils sampled, 49 were unbranded while 51 were branded.
The branded included Devon Kings – 19, Power Oil – 12, Activa – 4, Golden Penny – 3, Laziz Oil – 3, Mamador – 1, Lasor Oil – 1, Golden Terra – 1, Canola – 1, Primo Vegetable Oil -1, Zimzitana Oil – 1, Ayarah Oil – 1, Sim – 1,Tadenkey – 1, and Okli – 1. Similarly the salt samples included 19 unbranded, and 81 branded, including Mr, Chef – 71 and Dangote -10.
Another issue identified was the limited onboarding of manufacturers on the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform, developed by GAIN to improve the tracking of fortified foods from production to the point of consumption.
Better product traceability will benefit both consumers and businesses. It makes it easier to identify quality concerns, improves transparency and helps manufacturers and regulators address problems across the supply chain.
Only six vegetable oil producers had registered on the traceability platform, and only eight results belonging to three of the six companies could be uploaded on the platform, among the 100 vegetable oil sample results analysed by the Commission.
Accordingly, the Commission has issued a directive compelling the defaulting producers to comply.
The Commission also encourages manufacturers, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), to embrace product registration and digital traceability, while promoting consumer awareness of the importance of fortified foods and proper product handling and storage.
Commenting on the exercise, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, stressed that consumers should be able to trust the quality of the products they buy and the benefits those products are expected to provide.
He noted that consumer protection is not limited to resolving complaints or addressing harmful business practices, it also involves ensuring that consumers are not denied the value and benefits they are entitled to expect from products in the marketplace.
Mr. Bello further emphasised that businesses have a responsibility to maintain appropriate quality standards and ensure that their products meet applicable requirements.
Also, the Commission has escalated the development to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between them.
