The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has uncovered the widespread presence of substandard and unregistered sugar products in Nigerian markets, particularly in the Southwest and Northeast.
The spokesperson of FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to him, the fake products are particularly smuggled brands from Brazil, including Grupo Moreno, Terous, USI S. Joao, Alvean, and Arapora Bionergia.
He noted that the products were smuggled through Nigeria’s porous borders, particularly from neighbouring countries including Cameroon and the Benin Republic.
This comes as the Commission warned that the fake products that failed to meet mandatory Vitamin A fortification requirements pose serious health risks to Nigerian consumers.
“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has uncovered the availability of substandard and unregistered sugar products.
“The products, which failed to meet mandatory Vitamin A fortification requirements, pose serious health risks to consumers, undermine the integrity of the local sugar industry, and contribute to price manipulation that harms the market.
“Acting on a tip-off, FCCPC operatives conducted discreet investigations across the country, particularly in the South-West and the North-East.
“The investigations revealed that many of the identified sugar products lacked normal labelling, including production and expiry dates, batch numbers, and the mandatory National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration. Even more concerning, most of the products were not fortified with Vitamin A, a critical nutrient essential for good vision, immune health, and overall well-being. The absence of this fortification exposes Nigerian consumers to serious health risks, including blindness and increased susceptibility to infections, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.
“The FCCPC is also engaging with industry stakeholders to promote compliance with quality standards, protect local producers, and foster fair competition within the sugar market,” he stated.
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