The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning to bakeries across Nigeria regarding the use of potassium bromate and saccharin in bread production. This announcement was made by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, during her appearance at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Sunday.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized the agency's commitment to ensuring public safety and maintaining food standards. "We have closed down a few bakeries because they are using bromate during bread production," she stated. "If we find out, or someone suspects or tastes the bread and it has bromate, we will shut the bakery down."
NAFDAC's post-marketing surveillance plays a crucial role in this effort. The agency routinely inspects products, sometimes prompted by complaints through their reform office. Prof. Adeyeye highlighted the importance of these inspections, saying, "Our Regulatory Inspection Directorate is important to us because it ensures that what is brought to us at the point of registration is what is still in the market."
The use of potassium bromate in bread has been a contentious issue due to its potential health risks. It is known to improve the quality of bread by enhancing starch gelatinization and protein structure, but excessive use can leave harmful residues. Potassium bromate is classified as a possible human carcinogen, leading many countries, including Nigeria, to ban its use as a flour additive.
In addition to bromate, NAFDAC also cautioned against the use of saccharin in bread, which is not permitted under the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA). Prof. Adeyeye reiterated, "Any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharin, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions."
NAFDAC reassures the public of its dedication to safeguarding health and urges consumers to remain vigilant.
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