FCCPC: 12% of cooking oil samples fail vitamin tests as watchdog seals firms breaking food fortification rules

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says some of the cooking oil and salt sold in Nigeria does not contain the vitamins and minerals required by law, and it has sealed the facilities of firms found breaking the rules.

In a two-month survey run jointly with the nutrition charity GAIN, the commission tested 100 samples of vegetable oil and 100 samples of salt bought from homes and open markets in northern and southern Nigeria.

Twelve of the oil samples and two of the salt samples did not have enough of the added nutrients. About half of the oil tested was sold without a brand name. The commission also found that only six oil manufacturers had signed up to a system that tracks whether their products are properly fortified.

Nigerian law requires some everyday foods to be fortified, for example vegetable oil with vitamin A and salt with iodine, to help prevent common health problems linked to poor nutrition.

The FCCPC's Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, said shoppers should be able to rely on what they are buying. The commission did not name the companies affected. Its findings have been passed to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action.