NAFDAC said unlike Cerelac, Nido, the follow-up milk formula by
The
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and shared with PREMIUM TIMES by the agency's Director General,
In the statement, the regulatory body said products supplied by the company are often evaluated before distribution to any part of the country.
This statement is in response to PREMIUM TIMES' earlier inquiry into the development.
Backstory
An investigation, carried out by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network, a coalition focused on improving maternal and infant health, revealed that the company added sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold to
According to the report, samples of
It found traces of sugar, such as sucrose or honey, in samples of Cerelac, a cereal for children between six months and two years old, and Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for infants at least one-year-old.
However, NAFDAC, responding to this, said, "The management of NAFDAC wishes to use this medium to reassure the public that the agency exercises due regulatory diligence in the registration of infant and young children foods distributed and used in
Nido not in
NAFDAC said unlike Cerelac, Nido, the follow-up milk formula by
The regulatory body said: "The mention of Nido follow-up milk formula in the publication, NAFDAC wishes to state that the product is not registered in
"The range of
"This is applicable to all categories of infant and young children foods distributed by manufacturers, importers, and marketers of infant and young children foods operating within
NAFDAC noted that adequate, optimal nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential.
"NAFDAC in recognition of the vulnerability of the target population, measures are in place to monitor and enforce compliance with the national and international regulations," the statement further reads in part.
Meanwhile,
In its statement, the company denied adding sugar to its products sold in
The subsidiary argued that it complies with global requirements on sugar usage and supplies quality products worldwide.
The company insisted that its principles are aligned with both international and local guidelines.
It argued that baby formulas in
The agency said: "In
"Our milk and cereals for young children are fortified with vitamins and minerals such as iron to help tackle malnutrition".
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