NIGERIA – Following a search on a warehouse in the Apongbon neighborhood of Lagos Island, Lagos State, and Boundary Street, in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reported the arrest of importers/distributors of fraudulent food products.

The raids were a part of NAFDAC’s efforts to stop the importation, sale, and distribution of regulated counterfeit goods and to make sure that only safe, quality, and efficacious products are imported, manufactured, distributed, sold, and used by the Nigerian populace.

Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, NAFDAC’s Acting Director General, revealed at a press conference that NAFDAC officers raided a warehouse containing potassium bromate tablets and an unregistered imported EDC-2000 bread improver, as well as arrested the importer.

The officers found 115 cartons of potassium bromate tablets with a street value of N28.75 million (U.S$ 63,726)

Also found in the warehouse was a counterfeit EDC bread improver worth N300,000 (U.S$ 6,645) packed in sachets with a fake NAFDAC registration number.

Dr. Monica said the agency also conducted an investigation, which led to the confiscation of fake cooking margarine with a fake NAFDAC registration number and the arrest of the importer.

She enjoined the general public to join in the watch for injurious products anywhere in the country and report the same or any suspected unwholesome product to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Kenyans on alert over sale of dog meat

In a similar news story, Kenyans have been placed on alert over suspected dog slaughter and the sale of the meat in the country. This follows a social media video of a guy skinning a dog which went viral.

“Your attention is drawn to a social media post on suspected dog slaughter and sale of the meat to the public. Whereas it is not possible to identify the area where this criminal activity took place, it is important to take quick and decisive action to protect consumers and meat trade in the country,” Dr. Obadiah Njagi Director of veterinary services at the State Depart of Livestock at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock development highlighted in an official alert to county directors of veterinary services.

He reminded that a dog is not a declared food animal in the country as per section 2 of the Meat Control Act Cap 356.

“This, therefore, makes it illegal for any person to slaughter any undeclared animal and offer the meat for sale to unsuspecting customers.

“This also constitutes fraud and in addition, consumers of such meat are exposed to zoonotic diseases arising from the consumption of uninspected meat,” Dr. Njagi said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that zoonotic diseases usually referred to as zoonoses are brought on by germs that spread from animals to humans.

Dr. Njagi called on County Directors to be extra vigilant in surveillance of the meat market to curb such illegal activities.

“This is by ensuring that all meat offered for consumption in your respective counties is slaughtered in approved slaughterhouses, duly inspected, stamped, and transported under the control of the inspecting officers,” he said.

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