Contaminated Bread Improver Worth $250,000 Seized By NAFDAC

Contaminated bread improver (Edlen Dough
Conditioner) worth $250,000 imported from the
USA has been confiscated at the Onne Port in
Rivers State by the National Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
NAFDAC head of Ports Inspection Directorate in
Port Harcourt, Dr. Musa Umar, said the product
loaded in 10 containers was first suspected by
NAFDAC officials at the port in January while
thorough examination on April 16, and was
reexamined in the presence of the importer,
clearing agent and manufacturer on May 2.
He said findings in the series of investigations
confirmed that the product imported by Dorcas-
Jedi Investment Nigeria Ltd had already
deteriorated and unfit for human consumption
by the degree to which the product's integrity
had been compromised.
"Some cartons were soaked and there were
evidence of bloated cans and products spilling on
to the boxes. Full examination was attempted for
all the 10 containers but no product with
acceptable physical attributes was seen," Umar
said.
He said the economic loss for the end users
(bread bakers) would have been enormous if the
product was allowed to enter the market as its
utility value had been lost.
A representative of the product's importer, Dr.
Ottih Ezuma attributed its spoilage to long delay
from the shipping company that shipped it from
Savannah Sea Port in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Customs Area II Command Controller, Magaji
Mohammed, who handed the products over to
NAFDAC said his command had likewise handed
over to NAFDAC 426 bottles of naturelite
children's multivitamin discovered to have
expired.
The spoilt products still in custody at
government warehouse, Onne Port are to be
destroyed by NAFDAC Enforcement Unit after
necessary official documentation.