The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed producers of vegetable oil and salt discovered to be inadequately fortified to adjust to nationwide meals fortification requirements.
The directive follows a two-month survey carried out by the Commission in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), which recognized deficiencies within the fortification of some merchandise collected from Nigerian markets and households.
In an announcement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the FCCPC mentioned its evaluation of 200 samples, comprising 100 vegetable oil and 100 salt samples, discovered that 12 per cent of the vegetable oil and two per cent of the salt had been inadequately fortified.
The survey was carried out in randomly chosen markets and households throughout northern and southern Nigeria.
According to the Commission, the research used a Household Food Fortification Survey alongside the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform to observe and hint fortified meals merchandise.
The FCCPC mentioned the findings additionally revealed restricted registration of producers on the digital traceability platform, which was developed by GAIN to enhance the monitoring of fortified meals from manufacturing to consumption.
It disclosed that solely six vegetable oil producers had registered on the platform, whereas solely eight outcomes belonging to 3 of the six corporations could possibly be uploaded among the many 100 vegetable oil samples analysed.
“Accordingly, the Commission has issued a directive compelling the defaulting producers to comply,” the assertion mentioned.
The Commission additionally inspired producers, significantly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), to embrace product registration and digital traceability.
Commenting on the findings, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, mentioned shoppers should have the ability to belief the standard of merchandise they buy and the advantages they’re anticipated to offer.
He careworn that shopper safety goes past resolving complaints and addressing dangerous enterprise practices.
“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,” Bello mentioned.
He additional emphasised that producers have a duty to keep up acceptable high quality requirements and guarantee their merchandise meet relevant necessities.
The FCCPC mentioned large-scale meals fortification includes including important nutritional vitamins and minerals, together with iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine, to extensively consumed staple meals and condiments throughout industrial processing.
The observe is meant to deal with micronutrient deficiencies and cut back hidden starvation, a public well being concern affecting populations globally, significantly pre-school youngsters and girls of reproductive age.
The Commission additionally disclosed that it had referred the event to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for additional motion, according to the Memorandum of Understanding between each companies.
The FCCPC urged shoppers to concentrate to fortified meals merchandise and their correct dealing with and storage.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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