The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert over counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat products discovered in Lagos. The fake products, bearing Batch Code 308002910 and falsely attributed to Nestlé Spain, were reported to emit a fuel-like odour, according to a complaint filed by Nestle Nigeria Plc, the legitimate Marketing Authorisation Holder. Preliminary analysis revealed the product had expired despite displaying a falsified expiry date of 10/2026, with date coding manipulated to appear valid. NAFDAC's Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate conducted a raid at Maxland Shopping Centre, 193 Ago Palace, Okota, where the suspect items were found and seized. Nestle Nigeria confirmed the counterfeit used a hyphen (-) to separate day and year in the date marking, unlike the authentic product which uses a slash (/). The agency advised the public to report suspicious products via 0800-162-3322 or [email protected]. NAFDAC warned that fake infant formula may lack vital nutrients or contain harmful contaminants, risking stunted growth, serious illness, or death in infants. All zonal directors and state coordinators have been instructed to intensify surveillance and remove any such products found.
That NAFDAC had to step in to flag fake Cerelac with a fuel smell suggests how deeply counterfeit goods have infiltrated infant nutrition. The fact that date coding was tampered with to show 10-2026, yet the product was already spoiled, reveals the sophistication of these fraudsters. For Nigerian parents, this means even trusted brands on retail shelves cannot be assumed safe without scrutiny. Vigilance is now part of parenting, not just purchasing.
