The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned bakers in Niger Stateagainst using banned substances, including potassium bromate and saccharin, in bread production.
The agency also cautioned bakery operators against using unapproved product labels and unauthorised advertisements, warning that violations could attract serious regulatory sanctions.
NAFDAC State Coordinator in Niger, James Kigbu, issued the warning during a one-day sensitisation programme organised for master bakers in the Minna Emirate on regulatory compliance.
Kigbu said bakeries found using banned bread improvers or unauthorised labels could face immediate closure, alongside other penalties including administrative fines and prosecution.
He stressed that compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements was necessary to protect consumers and ensure that bread and other baked products meet established standards.
“Bakers must adhere to good hygiene and food safety practices, use only approved ingredients and comply with NAFDAC labelling requirements,” Kigbu said.
The NAFDAC official urged bakers to ensure that their production processes, packaging and distribution practices comply with the agency’s regulations.
He said proper compliance would help protect public health while ensuring that consumers could have greater confidence in the quality and safety of baked products sold across the state.
The Chairman of the Master Bakers Association of Niger, Silvanus Umeh, said concerns among consumers about the quality and source of bread had encouraged the association to strengthen its monitoring of members.
Umeh said the association conducts regular visits to bakeries and also collects bread samples discreetly for laboratory analysis to determine whether members are complying with regulatory requirements.
He said the association was not aware of any of its members currently using banned substances, while urging bakers to maintain proper hygiene and comply with government regulations.
NAFDAC’s warning comes as the agency continues to enforce standards governing the production, labelling and marketing of food products in Nigeria. Bakers found violating the applicable requirements risk regulatory action, including closure and prosecution.
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