NAFDAC Disowns Viral Fake Products List, Warns Against Misinformation

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disowned a viral list circulating on social media that identifies several products in the Nigerian market as fake, adulterated or substandard, urging Nigerians to disregard the publication.

The agency warned that the unverified list could cause unnecessary panic among consumers, mislead the public, and inflict reputational and commercial damage on legitimate manufacturers and businesses.

In a statement issued by its Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC clarified that the circulating list did not emanate from the agency and should not be regarded as an official regulatory alert, product recall notice or safety communication.

The agency stressed that it does not make sweeping declarations about the safety or authenticity of products without following established regulatory procedures, including investigations, product sampling, and, where necessary, scientific and laboratory analysis.

According to NAFDAC, its regulatory communications are specific, verifiable, and issued through established official channels.

It explained that whenever a product or a particular batch is found to be substandard, falsified, adulterated, or unsafe, the agency provides relevant details and communicates the appropriate regulatory action to the public.

Consequently, the agency urged Nigerians to disregard the viral list in its entirety and refrain from sharing or amplifying the unverified information.

NAFDAC emphasised that the appearance of a product’s name or photograph on social media does not constitute evidence that the product is fake, adulterated, or unsafe.

It noted that accepting an unverified list as an official regulatory declaration could trigger unnecessary fear and confusion among consumers while undermining confidence in legitimate products.

The agency warned that the potential consequences of such misinformation extend beyond consumer anxiety to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other stakeholders across the pharmaceutical, food, and consumer-products markets.

It added that false claims about legitimate products could disrupt business operations, distort consumer behaviour, and cause avoidable financial and reputational losses.

Reaffirming its commitment to public health, NAFDAC said it would continue to discharge its statutory responsibility of ensuring that regulated products meet established standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

The agency also assured Nigerians that it would take appropriate enforcement measures whenever investigations and scientific assessments establish the need for regulatory intervention.

It urged consumers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, distributors, and other stakeholders to obtain information about product alerts, recalls, withdrawals, suspensions, and other regulatory actions exclusively through its official communication channels

NAFDAC, however, acknowledged the importance of public vigilance in identifying and reporting suspected counterfeit, adulterated, or substandard products.

It explained that reports from members of the public provide valuable regulatory intelligence but stressed that allegations must undergo proper investigation and scientific verification before definitive conclusions can be reached.

The agency further noted that its public alerts serve as reference resources for consumers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to identify suspicious products and avoid potential harm.

It said that when necessary, NAFDAC issues product alerts, conducts market surveillance, removes offensive products from circulation, and destroys seized items as part of its enforcement efforts.

The agency reiterated its commitment to continuous surveillance, enforcement, and transparent communication, urging Nigerians to verify product-related information through its official channels to prevent the spread of misinformation.

For enquiries, members of the public can contact NAFDAC on 0700-1-NAFDAC (0700-1-623322). Complaints can be directed to 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322) or sent to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.