NAFDAC Says Viral List Is Not an Official Warning
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disowned a viral social media list claiming to identify fake, adulterated and substandard products in Nigeria, warning the public against treating the circulating information as an official regulatory announcement.
The agency said the list did not originate from it and should not be interpreted as a product recall, safety alert or confirmed finding about the products featured in the online posts.
In a clarification issued to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, NAFDAC’s resident media consultant, Olusayo Akintola, explained that the agency follows established procedures before determining whether a product is counterfeit, adulterated, unsafe or below the required quality standards.
How NAFDAC Determines Whether Products Are Unsafe
According to the agency, product-safety decisions are based on regulatory investigations, sample collection and scientific laboratory testing.
These procedures help establish whether a product meets the required standards and whether regulatory action is necessary. NAFDAC maintained that claims about product authenticity or safety should not be accepted as established findings without appropriate verification.
The agency also explained that official announcements concerning unsafe or substandard products generally include specific identifying information to help consumers and other stakeholders establish which products are affected.
Where a particular product or batch is found to be falsified, adulterated, substandard or unsafe, NAFDAC said it communicates the relevant details and regulatory measures through its recognised channels.
Why Consumers Should Be Careful With Viral Product Claims
The clarification highlights the importance of distinguishing between information circulating on social media and findings formally issued by a regulatory authority.
A product’s name or photograph appearing in an online post does not, by itself, prove that the product is fake or dangerous. Such claims require investigation and supporting scientific evidence before an official conclusion can be reached.
For consumers, this means that an unverified list should not be treated as a substitute for an official product-safety announcement. It also means that the absence of a product from a viral list should not automatically be interpreted as proof of its safety.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to exercise caution when encountering such claims and to avoid spreading information that has not been confirmed through the agency’s recognised communication channels.
NAFDAC Urges Nigerians to Stop Sharing the List
The agency called on members of the public to disregard the circulating list and refrain from sharing it further.
NAFDAC warned that distributing unconfirmed product-safety claims could create unnecessary fear and confusion among consumers, particularly when the information has not been established through its regulatory procedures.
The agency’s position is that claims involving potentially unsafe products must be assessed through appropriate investigations and scientific testing rather than accepted solely because they are widely circulated online.
Conclusion
NAFDAC has clarified that the viral list of allegedly fake products did not originate from the agency and should not be regarded as an official warning or product recall.
The agency’s advisory reinforces the need for Nigerians to distinguish between unverified social media posts and formal regulatory findings. Consumers should rely on recognised NAFDAC communications when assessing product-safety announcements and avoid circulating unconfirmed allegations about products.
What do you think about the spread of unverified product-safety claims on social media? Share your views in the comments.
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