The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning about the safety of bread sold in markets, revealing that many products are failing laboratory tests. The agency attributes this to the use of saccharine, a sugar substitute, by bread producers struggling with the rising cost of sugar.
Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, NAFDAC’s Southwest Coordinator, made this disclosure during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Ibadan on Friday. Ajayi expressed concern over the health risks posed by the introduction of non-approved ingredients in bread production, stressing that the agency would not compromise on safety standards despite economic challenges.
“Recently, we observed that bread sold in the markets is failing laboratory tests because producers are using saccharine due to the high cost of sugar,” Ajayi stated. “They are introducing ingredients that are not good for the health of consumers. The quality and safety of regulated products cannot be compromised.”
In addition to concerns about bread, NAFDAC also warned water producers, patent medicine dealers, and other manufacturers against the sale of fake and substandard products. Ajayi noted that recent operations revealed that some patent medicine dealers were selling restricted drugs and unregistered products, while some manufacturers failed to meet packaging and storage standards.

The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure the health and safety of citizens. Ajayi emphasized that recent regulatory decisions, some of which have been gazetted, are designed to sanitize the regulatory environment and ensure good practices across various sectors.

Mr. Moses Adewole, the Oyo State Director of Pharmaceutical Services, also addressed the participants, urging medicine sellers to adhere strictly to their areas of expertise and avoid selling expired drugs, which he likened to poisoning the public.

Participants at the meeting included master bakers, chemical dealers, agro-input dealers, importers, supermarket operators, and other manufacturers and distributors of regulated products. The event underscored the importance of maintaining high standards in the production and distribution of goods to protect public health.