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The necessity for improved Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) on consumer products imported or made in the country cannot be over-emphasised, going by recent discoveries and global safety concerns expressed by relevant agencies. Following global safety concerns, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently reaffirmed that the agency has banned the importation of Indomie noodles into the country. Also, SWIPHA (manufacturers, marketers and distributors of pharmaceutical products) recently announced recall of all batches of Polyfort Suspension, a remedy for constipation, heartburn and over-acidity in stock over negative trend. The recall is “on account of the result of ongoing stability study on three batches of the drug showing a negative trend. Similarly, SWIPHA is also currently carrying out further investigation on other batches.
The reaffirmation of the ban of Indomie noodles made the news following the recalling of contaminated foreign ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities as a result of the discovery of ethylene oxide, a cancer causing agent in the product. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ethylene oxide is a colourless, highly reactive, end flammable gas widely used as an intermediate in the production of various chemicals. WHO in a report noted that findings from animal investigations, test systems, and epidemiological findings suggested an increase in the incidence of human cancer, adding that the report concludes that ethylene oxide should be considered as a probable human carcinogen, and that its levels in the environment should be kept as low as feasible.
Thus, this recent global safety concern on contaminated foreign ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ resonates with a past experience in Nigerian. In 2004, NAFDAC under the leadership of the late Dr. Dora Akunyili following the reported death of Mr. Oluyemi Moritiwon and other cases of stooling, vomiting, diarrhea among consumers, after a meal of Indomie Instant Noodle (Chicken flavour) in Lagos, NAFDAC swung into action and tested 28 batches of Indomie Instant Noodle, out of which three were found to be contaminated with carbofuran, a carbamate pesticide used in agriculture.
On the recent ban of Indomie noodles in Nigeria, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said that the reaffirmation is an extra caution to ensure that the product is not smuggled into Nigeria, because “Indomie noodles have been banned from being imported into the country for many years. It is one of the foods on the government prohibition list. It is not allowed in Nigeria, and therefore not registered by NAFDAC.” Essentially, he assured Nigerians that NAFDAC is alive to its responsibilities; and if Indomie noodles are smuggled into the country, NAFDAC Post Marketing Surveillance would detect it in the market.
Undoubtedly, there is the need for improved PMS, particularly on fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) to ensure sanity and reduce the risk Nigerians are being exposed to by unethical business practices. The PMS should be less reactive and periodically publicise its findings on products as a preventive health strategy for Nigerians. This will send a signal to marketers that they are being monitored and rebuild the confidence of Nigerians that their “lives matter’ to the state.
There are enough laws in the country to protect the rights of the consumer due to the establishment of agencies such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Ports Inspection Directorate (PID). However, some recent cases question the proactiveness of these agencies.
For voluntarily recalling some batches of Polyfort Suspension from the market and mandating marketers to stop further sales, carrying out inventory segregated immediately and contacting customers who bought Polyfort Suspension to return them, SWIPHA’s efforts are commendable. Many unethical marketers may have products with integrity issues but may not do the right thing.
Again, in the past few years, some investigative media stories reveal the magnitude of fake, adulterated or sub-standard products in Nigerian markets. In 2021, for instance, an investigative journalist using market survey, laboratory analysis and interview with experts, brought out the irony of paying higher for assumed healthier but unhealthy oils that unfortunately command the largest share of public trust. In the story titled ‘Poor hearts in barrels of harmful oils,’ the journalist combed five major food markets in Lagos for some of the cheapest, unbranded vegetable oils in demand, as well as some pricier branded ones. The samples were sent to a federal laboratory for analysis, which jarringly revealed that neither the rich nor poor were safe. The report presents how unbridled access to unhealthy fats consumption increasingly hurts the human heart as thousands of Nigerians die prematurely from cardiovascular diseases; and the paradox of the regulation of food in between the giant of Africa, and supposedly a lesser country.
Multiplicity of fake, adulterated and sub-standard products in Nigerian markets are red flags on the effectiveness of our regulatory bodies. For instance, the case of SWIPHA raises questions on Post Marketing Surveillance of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemical and bottled water. Unless and until it is tamed, the rend will become increasingly dangerous with attendant public health implications arising from consumption of unwholesome food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemical and bottled water by the public.
Given also that Nigeria has porous borders, SON, FCCPC, NAFDAC, NCS and PID should contextualise their operations, collaborate and work in a coordinated manner in order to proactively protect Nigerian consumers. The relevant agencies should do regular spot check as a preventive strategy instead of being reactive.
The Non-governmental Organisation (NGOs) and consumer oriented groups concerned mainly with increasing consumer consciousness and providing consumer information to improve their safety should work with the media to create public awareness on defective products through stories, while business organisations (producers/manufacturers) should be ethical and socially responsible; and advance consumer rights through self-regulation by adequately testing for product safety.
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