The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerian parents and caregivers that all Nestlé SMA Infant Formula products approved for sale in the country are safe for consumption and are not affected by the recent recall announced in the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NAFDAC clarified that the batches of Nestlé SMA Infant Formula currently being recalled in the UK were never registered nor approved for the Nigerian market.
The agency said the recall, which affects specific batches in more than 50 countries, was carried out as a precautionary measure by Nestlé UK due to the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting.
The statement, signed by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, stressed that all Nestlé infant formula products approved for marketing in Nigeria meet the country’s regulatory safety standards.
“NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public, healthcare professionals, and all relevant stakeholders, particularly parents, guardians and caregivers, that all Nestlé Infant Formulae currently approved for marketing in Nigeria are safe for consumption and are not part of the recall,” the agency said.
NAFDAC explained that cereulide is a heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus and that the concern raised globally relates only to specific UK-manufactured batches.
According to the agency, the SMA range sold in Nigeria is manufactured at the Nestlé Tuas Factory in Singapore and is duly registered with NAFDAC. These include SMA Gold 1 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2783), SMA Gold 2 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2780), and SMA Gold 3 (NAFDAC Reg. No. B1-2781).
NAFDAC further confirmed that both the SMA and NAN ranges of infant formula produced for the Nigerian market are not part of the affected batches involved in the voluntary recall abroad.
The agency said the public advisory was issued in line with its statutory responsibility to keep Nigerians informed of global food safety concerns, even where the risk of local exposure is minimal. It added that it remains vigilant, particularly in light of possible risks linked to unauthorised imports, online purchases, and personal carriage of food products during international travel.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to strict regulatory oversight through product registration, routine surveillance, and post-market monitoring to ensure that all food products, especially infant nutrition products, meet approved safety, quality, and labelling standards.
