The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against sharing a viral social media list claiming that some products in the Nigerian market are fake, adulterated or substandard, stating that the information did not originate from the agency.
The agency said the list should not be treated as an official safety alert, product recall notice or confirmation that the products named are unsafe.
In a statement, NAFDAC explained that declaring a product or batch unsafe requires proper regulatory procedures, including investigation, sampling and, where necessary, scientific and laboratory tests.
It added that official notices on falsified, adulterated, substandard or unsafe products contain specific and verifiable details and are issued through established communication channels.
The agency urged consumers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers and distributors to disregard the viral list and stop circulating the unverified claims.
According to NAFDAC, spreading unconfirmed information about product safety could cause unnecessary public anxiety and damage the reputation of legitimate manufacturers, distributors and retailers. It warned that such claims could also affect consumer behaviour and weaken public confidence in products that meet regulatory standards.
However, the agency encouraged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspected counterfeit, adulterated or substandard products for investigation.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health through the regulation of products under its mandate. It said appropriate enforcement action would be taken where investigations and scientific assessments show that intervention is necessary.
The agency advised the public to rely on its official communication channels for verified information on product safety alerts, recalls, withdrawals and other regulatory actions.
