By CHIOMA OBINNA
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has threatened to commence a nationwide clampdown on bakers, who distribute bread products without wraps and labels just as it warned millers to comply with set standards of Good Manufacturing Practice, GMP, and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, HACCP, guidelines and requirements of the Agency or face the wrath of the law.

Director General of the Agency, Dr. Paul Orhii who gave the warning at a Sensitization & Interactive Workshop for Stakeholders in the Bakery Industry  in Lagos said the act violates the standards of the Agency as the naked loaves eventually get to the consumers already contaminated and in unhygienic conditions.

Orhii lamented that NAFDAC has recently observed several lapses and violations, urged bakers to stop  the use of dangerous ingredients which are not on the list of substances generally regarded as safe.

Imploring all stakeholders to conscientiously execute their duties both statutorily and morally to ensure that bread and bread products are nutritious, wholesome and safe for consumption of the Nigerian population, he said

“Millers should consistently produce flour fortified with vitamins A & C, and other safe enhancers in approved quantities to prevent bakers from adding dangerous chemicals like potassium bromates as flour/bread improvers.

He reiterated that the use of bromates have since been banned and removed from the list of bread improvers generally regarded as Safe ingredients by the FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives worldwide since 1992 as it is capable of causing cancer, kidney failure, deafness, redness and pain of the eyes and skin.

“ Apart from potassium bromate, some other chemicals used as improvers contribute to substandard bread. These include nitrogen trichloride and ammonium persulphate, the use of which causes brain disturbances in animals, skin allergy and the depletion of vitamin content of flour,”

Speaking, NAFDAC’s Director Establishment Inspection Directorate, Mrs. Hauwa Keri regretted the revelation that several bakeries were producing under very poor hygienic conditions and still usingpotassium bromate even after their products have been registered by NAFDAC.

Keri announced that following the failure of the bakeries to maintain GHP level soon after their registration, the Agency is intensifying routine inspection and surveillance to ensure that bakeries found wanting are brought to book.