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NAFDAC alerts consumers to contaminated corn, recalls affected brand

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC

*The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has alerted Nigerians to recall of Canadian Alasko brand IQF Whole Kernel corn due to possible salmonella contamination, that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In the health regulator’s effort at protecting the health of Nigerians, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted consumers to the recall of Canadian Alasko brand IQF Whole Kernel corn due to possible salmonella contamination.

ConsumerConnect reports Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, disclosed this development in the agency’s alert with No. 007/2022, issued to reporters Monday, March 28, 2022, in Abuja, FCT.

Prof. Adeyeye said salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis.

The Director-General of NAFDAC noted that the regulatory agency was informed about the recall by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Symptoms of this bacteria are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, loss of appetite, mild fever, weakness and headache, she stated.

According to her,  the symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last up to four days to seven days.

Adeyey also stated: “The possible risk is that food contaminated with salmonella may not look or smell spoilt, but can still make you sick.

“Young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune system may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections as a result of this bacteria.”

She further said that healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, and that long-term complication may include severe arthritis.

NAFDAC urged importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare providers and consumers to exercise caution in the importation, distribution, sale and use of the recalled lots of the Alasko brand IQF Whole Kernel corn.

Adeyeye also advised Nigerian consumers in possession of the recalled product to discontinue sale or use and hand over to the nearest NAFDAC office.

The agency encouraged healthcare professionals, consumers and patients to report adverse events related to the use of the product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 TOLLS FREE from all networks).

The public, she stated, can also report any adverse events via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng or via the NAFDAC ADR e-Reporting platform available at www.nafdac.gov.ng.

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