NAFDAC shuts firm for revalidating expired food spices for consumption

*Nigeria’s National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control has shut Every Rose Limited, manufacturers of SomGeo brand of spices for illegally revalidating expired products, and said the company would be heavily sanctioned for endangering public health

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

For constituting a clear danger to the health of unsuspecting Nigerian consumers through production and sale of falsified and revalidated expired products, the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down  Every Rose Limited, manufacturers of SomGeo brand of spices in the country.

Sayo Akintola, Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC, in a statement disclosed that said the company was shut following a tip-off by operatives of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the regulatory agency.

Akintola said the NAFDAC officials swooped on the main warehouse and factory of Every Rose Limited, located at Petu Village, Cele 2, Bus Stop Off Ibeju-Lekki, and No. 23, Tunji Lekki, Bello Street, Penuncular Stream 2, Lekki, in Lagos State, respectively.

SomGeo Curry packed in cartoons

The statement noted after the visit by the NAFDAC officers, it was discovered that large quantities of expired curry and thyme spices were stored in the warehouse with packaging materials, labels as well as stamps that were being used to illegally revalidate the already expired products (Spices).

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, who condemned the infraction, said the company would be heavily sanctioned for endangering public health, the statement noted.

The Director-General disclosed the agency has sealed off and placed on hold the two locations of the company that NAFDAC officials.

According to her, the company staff caught in the act of revalidating the expired curry and thyme spices in the factory have been apprehended and taken to NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement office for further investigation.

Various finished products and working tools were found in the factory while the business owner, a lady is at large.

The statement explained the records available to NAFDAC showed that the company located at 19, Adelajo Ojo Crescent, Magodo, in Lagos, registered 16 different products for listing under the brand name SomGeo and these include SomGeo Ginger Powder, SomGeo Garlic Powder, SomGeo Thyme Leaves, and SomGeo Mixed Spices Powder amongst others.

The agency, however, revealed that the registration for these products expired since December 5, 2017.

Adeyeye warned unscrupulous manufacturers and marketers to desist from being merchants of death at the expense of the health of unsuspecting Nigerian consumers through production and sale of falsified and revalidated expired products.

The agency is ready to eliminate the incidence of falsified products in the markets or bring it down to the minimum to safeguard the health of the people, added the statement.

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