SON begins nationwide removal of unfortified products from markets

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has commenced a nationwide removal of unfortified food products from shops and markets in the country.

The development, according to the Director General, SON, Osita Aboloma, is in line with both the present administration and international organisation’s food fortification programme at ensuring that Nigerian children and women had access to basic nutrients and vitamins for health and development.

Speaking at an enforcement programme in Lagos, Aboloma, who was represented by the Director, Compliance, SON, Bede Obayi, disclosed that the exercise was conducted simultaneously in the six geo-political zones.

He said, ”We have decided to go all out to ensure that the standards for flour, pasta, sugar and salt (food fortified products) meet the minimum requirement of the standards. After being consumed by Nigerians, we must get the quality nutrients we deserve. Children and women suffer malnutrition when these food items are not certified. Lack of fortification of food also leads to stunted growth; and this is why these fortified foods have been supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation to ensure that Nigerian children and women grow like other children and women in other parts of the world.

“These food vehicles have been carefully selected because they are food items consumed by every Nigerian. These products are smuggled into the Nigerian markets, and this is why our inspectorate and compliance department is all out to ensure that wherever these products are being smuggled into in the country, we remove them.

“ We are conducting massive evacuation so that they do not find their way into the Nigerian market. We are targeting all the entry points. We have our officers in the markets to ensure that Nigerians are protected from these unfortified foods.”

The SON DG stated further that failing to address malnutrition would continue to negatively impact, not only on the health and well-being of Nigerians, but the country’s economic growth and prosperity.

Earlier in the week, the Director, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Shawn Baker, and heads of Nigerian food processing and nutrition firms convened for the first time to pledge a collective action to achieve adequate fortification of Nigeria’s major staple foods by 2020.

Aboloma disclosed that SON was currently working with the National Agency For Food, Drug Administration and Control, the Consumer Protection Council and international partners to ensure that the fortification programme of the present administration was a success.

“We have confirmed that there are unfortified food items in the market and our mandate is to remove them from circulation because we have agreed that those products should not be in our market because it is a great concern to us as a standards body,” he said.

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