The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a clearance statement absolving Food & Food Integrated Company Limited, the manufacturer of BON Bread, of regulatory violations following a viral social media controversy recently.
The investigation was prompted by a post that circulated last month, claiming that a loaf of the bread remained mould-free for more than two months, a claim that sparked public discussion about preservative use and food safety practices.
According to NAFDAC’s statement, the agency conducted facility inspections and laboratory testing of samples collected from production sites and retail markets. The regulator reported that calcium propionate, a preservative used in bread production, was detected at levels within international standards set by Codex Alimentarius. The agency stated that no prohibited or harmful substances were found in the tested samples.
Food & Food Integrated Company Limited confirmed in response that the product in question was BON Bread and disputed the viral claim as misleading. The manufacturer noted its operational history dating to 2006, with records showing successful regulatory license renewals and no prior sanctions or product recalls.
NAFDAC’s statement indicated that the investigation found no violations of approved standards governing bread production in Nigeria. The agency cautioned the public against drawing conclusions from unverified social media claims, stating that scientific testing should inform food safety assessments. It encouraged consumers to channel concerns through official regulatory channels.
The clearance marks the conclusion of NAFDAC’s investigative process on this matter. The timing coincides with the agency’s newly strengthened coordination framework with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), formalized through a recent Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving the handling of consumer complaints and product safety investigations.
The MOU establishes procedures for prior notification of investigations involving food, drugs, cosmetics, and regulated products, with dispute resolution mechanisms routed through consultations between the agencies’ chief executives.
The BON Bread case underscores the regulatory response to consumer concerns in Nigeria’s food and beverage sector, with both brand reputation and public health oversight mechanisms playing concurrent roles in how such disputes are managed and resolved.
