FCCPC urges Nigerian bakery operators to improve food safety and compliance

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has called for stricter regulatory compliance within the bakery and confectionery sector to ensure public health and consumer trust. During a stakeholder engagement in Lagos, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman Tunji Bello urged operators to conduct comprehensive reviews of their ingredients, production hygiene, labeling accuracy, and traceability protocols.

Food safety experts raised specific alarms regarding the illegal use of potassium bromate, a banned carcinogenic bread improver used to increase loaf volume. Research presented by Dr. Grillo Adebayo from the University of Lagos indicated that studies across Nigeria confirmed the presence of bromate in wheat flour and finished bread. Some samples were found to be unregistered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), with some bakeries falsely labeling products as ‘bromate-free’ despite containing the chemical.

To mitigate risks, experts recommended the adoption of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) protocols and emphasized that economic pressures, such as high production costs, do not justify the use of substandard ingredients or deceptive practices.