NAFDAC assures patents of safety of Nestle baby formulae in Nigeria 

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified  the recent public concerns arising from the voluntary global recall in over 50 countries by Nestlé UK of specific batches of its SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula due to the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin, in the batches concerned.

The Agency reassured  the public, healthcare professionals, relevant stakeholders particularly parents, guardians and caregivers, that all Nestlé Infant Formulae currently approved for marketing in Nigeria are safe for consumption and are not part of the recall.

The recall in the affected countries is due to the potential presence of cereulide in the UK batches, a toxin, which can trigger nausea and vomiting when consumed.

Cereulide is an extremely heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus.

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In a statement on Monday, NAFDAC confirmed  that; the SMA range sold in Nigeria is manufactured at Nestlé Tuas Factory, Singapore, and is duly registered with NAFDAC as follow; SMA GOLD 1 – NAFDAC Reg. No.: B1-2782, SMA GOLD 2 – NAFDAC Reg. No.: B1-2780 and SMA GOLD 3 – NAFDAC Reg. No.: B1-2781.

The Director General, Prof. Mrs. Mojisola Adeyeye said NAFDAC has verified and reiterates that the SMA and NAN range of infant formulae produced for the Nigerian market are not part of the affected batches involved in the voluntary and precautionary recall in other countries.

“This alert has been issued as a precautionary measure in the interest of public health, consistent with NAFDAC’s statutory responsibility to keep Nigerians duly informed of emerging global food safety concerns, even in circumstances where the likelihood of local exposure remains minimal.

“The Agency continues to exercise utmost vigilance, recognizing that the risks associated with unauthorized importation, online transactions, or personal carriage of such products during international travel cannot be entirely excluded.

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“The Agency continues to exercise strict regulatory oversight, including product registration, routine surveillance, and post-market monitoring, to ensure that all food products—especially infant nutrition products—meet approved safety, quality, and labeling standards.

“NAFDAC remains fully committed to safeguarding the health of Nigerians, particularly infants and vulnerable populations. The Agency will not hesitate to take prompt regulatory action should any product be found to pose a risk to public health.

“Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and rely only on verified information from NAFDAC and other competent authorities. Please discard the recalled products if found, and report any suspicion of their sale or distribution to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 0800-162-3322.”

The Agency advised that adverse events or side effects related to the consumption of the related products should be reported via NAFDAC’s E-reporting platforms.