The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised the alarm over vegetable oil and salt sold in Nigerian markets that failed to meet required fortification standards.
This was conveyed in a survey conducted by the Commission in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
In a statement on Thursday by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission said the study was carried out in random markets and homes across northern and southern Nigeria over a two-month period.
He said the methodology included a Household Food Fortification Survey, supported by the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform for monitoring and traceability of fortified foods.
According to him, Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) involves adding essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine to staple foods during processing to tackle micronutrient deficiencies and hidden hunger affecting pre-school children and women of reproductive age.
He noted that the national food policy mandates manufacturers to fortify such products.
Analysis of 200 samples — 100 each of vegetable oil and salt — showed that 12 percent of the oil and 2 percent of the salt were below standard at household level.
Of the vegetable oil samples, 49 were unbranded and 51 branded, including Devon Kings 19, Power Oil 12, Activa 4, Golden Penny 3, Laziz 3 and others. For salt, 19 were unbranded and 81 branded, with Mr Chef accounting for 71 and Dangote 10, he said
“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,” he explained.
The report also flagged low adoption of the DFQT+ platform, with only six vegetable oil producers registered and just eight results from three companies uploaded.
Ijagwu said improved traceability will help identify quality concerns, boost transparency and help regulators and manufacturers fix gaps across the supply chain. He said the Commission has directed defaulting producers to comply and urged MSMEs to embrace registration and traceability.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said consumers must be able to trust the quality of products they buy, stressing that consumer protection goes beyond resolving complaints to ensuring consumers get the value they deserve.
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
The Commission has escalated the findings to NAFDAC for further action in line with the MoU between both agencies.
