By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disowned a viral list circulating on social media that allegedly identifies products in the Nigerian market as fake, adulterated or substandard, warning Nigerians against sharing the unverified information.
The Agency said the list did not originate from NAFDAC and should not be regarded as an official regulatory alert, product recall notice or safety communication.
In a statement, the regulator stressed that it does not make sweeping declarations about the safety or authenticity of products without following established regulatory procedures, including investigations, sampling and, where necessary, scientific and laboratory verification.
NAFDAC explained that its official communications on substandard, falsified, adulterated or unsafe products are usually specific and verifiable, providing relevant product or batch details alongside the regulatory action taken.
It, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard the circulating list in its entirety and refrain from sharing or amplifying the claims.
The Agency warned that the appearance of a product’s name or photograph on social media does not constitute sufficient evidence to declare it fake or unsafe, emphasising the need to distinguish between online allegations and verified regulatory findings.
NAFDAC also cautioned that misinformation of this nature could create unnecessary public anxiety and damage the reputation of legitimate manufacturers and businesses.
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According to the Agency, wrongly treating the viral list as an official declaration could disrupt manufacturers, distributors and retailers, distort consumer behaviour and undermine confidence in properly regulated products across the pharmaceutical, food and consumer-products markets.
The regulator reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health by ensuring that regulated products meet established standards of safety, quality and efficacy.
It added that appropriate enforcement measures would continue to be taken whenever investigations and scientific assessments establish the need for regulatory intervention.
NAFDAC called on consumers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, distributors and other stakeholders to obtain information about product alerts, recalls, withdrawals, suspensions and other regulatory actions through its official communication channels.
While appreciating Nigerians for reporting suspected counterfeit, adulterated and substandard products, the Agency said such reports remained valuable sources of regulatory intelligence but must undergo proper investigation and scientific verification before definitive conclusions are reached.
