By Yinka Kolawole

Against the backdrop of allegations of unwholesome practices in the production of bread in the country, bakers under the aegis of Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) have assured the public of their strict adherence to the highest standards of food safety and quality in the production of bread.

The bakers stated this in a release signed by Emmanuel Onuorah and Babalola Thomas, President and PRO of PBAN, respectively, made available to Vanguard on Tuesday.

PBAN stated: “In light of recent unfounded rumors and misinformation, PBAN strongly reiterates that no unwholesome or substandard materials are used in the production of bread by any of our member bakeries.

“As a reputable association, PBAN is deeply committed to upholding the integrity of the breadmaking industry in Nigeria. All our members strictly comply with the regulations and guidelines set forth by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other relevant regulatory bodies. We ensure that every ingredient used in the baking process is safe, wholesome, and meets the highest quality standards.”

In particular, PBAN denounced a current video trending on social media by a tiktoker trying to use an unsubstantiated claim to tar all bread produced in Nigeria as ladened with unwholesome baking ingredients and unfit for consumption by unsuspecting Nigerians.

“That ungodly video is in bad taste with the potential to drag down the businesses of our hard working members, who toil day and night to produce healthy bread for the consuming public. Please, we urge the general public to disregard that video in its entirety.

“Our commitment to producing safe and nutritious bread is unwavering, and we have established stringent internal controls to ensure that all aspects of our production processes are in full compliance with extant laws governing food processing in Nigeria.

“We work closely with NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies to continuously improve our practices and ensure the safety of the public,” the association added.