FCCPC orders producers to comply with food fortification standards after a survey found inadequately fortified vegetable oil and salt in Nigerian markets

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed defaulting manufacturers of vegetable oil and salt to comply with food fortification requirements after a survey found that some products sampled in Nigerian markets were inadequately fortified.

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The findings emerged from a two-month study conducted by the commission in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), covering randomly selected markets and households in northern and southern Nigeria.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the analysis of 200 samples, comprising 100 vegetable oil and 100 salt samples, showed that 12 per cent of the vegetable oil and two per cent of the salt were inadequately fortified at household level.

The study used a Household Food Fortification Survey alongside the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform, a system developed by GAIN to support the monitoring and tracking of fortified food products.

Large-Scale Food Fortification involves adding essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine, to commonly consumed foods and condiments during industrial processing.

The practice is intended to address micronutrient deficiencies and reduce hidden hunger, a public health challenge affecting populations across the world, particularly pre-school children and women of reproductive age.

The FCCPC noted that Nigeria’s national food policy requires manufacturers to fortify applicable products.

The survey also revealed that a significant proportion of the vegetable oil samples were unbranded. Of the 100 samples collected, 49 were unbranded while 51 carried identifiable brands.

Devon Kings accounted for 19 samples, followed by Power Oil with 12. Activa accounted for four, while Golden Penny and Laziz Oil had three samples each.

Mamador, Lasor Oil, Golden Terra, Canola, Primo Vegetable Oil, Zimzitana Oil, Ayarah Oil, Sim, Tadenkey and Okli each accounted for one sample.

For salt, 19 of the 100 samples were unbranded, while 81 carried identifiable brands. Mr Chef accounted for 71 samples and Dangote for the remaining 10.

Beyond the fortification concerns, the commission identified limited manufacturer participation in the DFQT+ digital traceability platform as another challenge.

The platform is designed to improve the tracking of fortified food products from manufacturing facilities to consumers, helping regulators and businesses identify quality concerns and address problems along the supply chain.

However, the FCCPC disclosed that only six vegetable oil producers had registered on the platform. Of the 100 vegetable oil sample results analysed, only eight results from three of the six registered companies could be uploaded.

The commission said it had consequently issued a directive compelling defaulting producers to comply with the relevant requirements.

It also urged manufacturers, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to adopt product registration and digital traceability systems.

Consumers were equally encouraged to pay attention to the importance of fortified foods and ensure proper product handling and storage.

Commenting on the findings, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said consumers should be able to trust the quality of products they purchase and the benefits those products are expected to provide.

Bello stressed that consumer protection extended beyond resolving complaints and addressing harmful business practices.

He said it also involved ensuring that consumers received the value and benefits they were entitled to expect from products available in the marketplace.

He further emphasised that manufacturers had a responsibility to maintain appropriate quality standards and ensure their products met applicable requirements.

The commission also said it had escalated the matter to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action, in line with the memorandum of understanding between both regulatory agencies.

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The intervention underscores the importance of effective monitoring of food fortification standards, particularly for widely consumed products such as vegetable oil and salt, which play a role in efforts to address micronutrient deficiencies.