The Bauchi State office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has launched a three-day operation to address the issue of counterfeit Milo chocolate drinks found in local markets.
Dr. Paul Kamai, the Bauchi State Coordinator for NAFDAC, announced the initiative during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.
“We have begun inspections across various markets and supermarkets to remove counterfeit Milo products, following instructions from our headquarters. This operation started on Tuesday and will continue for three days,” Dr. Kamai said.
In addition to tackling fake products, NAFDAC will also hold discussions with agrochemical dealers in Bauchi this week. The focus will be on educating them about the risks of using banned chemicals such as Dictholoruvis and Paraquat for food preservation, particularly with the harvest season approaching.
“These chemicals have been banned due to their hazardous nature. We will educate dealers on the risks they pose when used improperly,” Kamai added.
Furthermore, Dr. Kamai advised bakers and packaged water producers to ensure their operational licenses are renewed every two years as required. Failure to do so, he warned, could lead to penalties that might disrupt their business activities.
He also urged small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to register their products with NAFDAC to facilitate their entry into the Nigerian market.