NAFDAC raids market,  intercepts 110 cartons of expired drinks in Sokoto

*Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control says it has conducted a raid on the Sokoto Central Market and other places over expired and harmful beverages in order to protect consumers’ well-being

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In an effort at safeguarding the health of Nigerian consumers, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted 110 cartons of expired flavoured powdered drinks in Sokoto State, North-West of the country

Mr. Adamu Garba, NAFDAC Coordinator in Sokoto State, disclosed this development, when speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Wednesday, April 20, 2022,  in Sokoto.

Garba stated that items valued at N1million were seized during raids in markets and other places.

The NAFDAC chief said that the health regulator’s move was aimed at ridding the state of unregulated and expired products.

Garba also listed some of the confiscated items to include foster Clark, Tiara and other powdered juice, flavoured and carbonated drinks.

He further stated: “The drinks are in high demand during the hot season, particularly during Ramadan fast.

“This necessitated the mop up exercise across markets in the state before, during and even after the Ramadan in order to safeguard the health of the people.”

The NAFDAC State Coordinator said: “About 110 cartons of the expired and unwholesome drinks, as well as unregistered concentrate flavored chemicals have been seized.”

The Coordinator said the exercise was conducted in Sokoto Central Market and other places, saying that such operations would continue in markets, supermarkets and provision stores across the state.

The NAFDAC official, therefore, appealed to the general public to report any retailer selling expired or unregistered products to either NAFDAC office or the nearest police station in Sokoto State.

The health regulatory agency has also embarked on audit of all bakeries in the state, especially those located in rural areas to ensure that people patronise only safe and wholesome products, said he.