The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday sealed a Suleja warehouse owned by Alhaji Ahmed for illegally selling large quantities of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food additive banned from bulk importation due to health risks.

Kenneth Azikiwe, the director in charge of the FCT Directorate of NAFDAC, told journalists during the enforcement exercise that the agency had already banned the sale of MSG in bulk due to health concerns.

Mr Azikiwe said the enforcement was carried out under the directive of NAFDAC director-general, Mojisola Adeyeye, as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard public health.

He said during the operation, the agency also confiscated various unregistered, adulterated, and counterfeit products from the Ibrahim Babangida International Market in Suleja.

“Some of the seized items included banned foreign spaghetti brands like Doga and Roca, and counterfeit toothpaste such as Bamboo Charcoal, Crogate, and Cloguide, all mimicking known brands like Colgate,” Mr Azikiwe said.

Mr Azikiwe noted that certain products were placed on hold for further investigation.

He explained that MSG, commonly known as “White Maggi” or used in Ajinomoto, was a sodium-based additive banned from bulk importation into Nigeria.

“While small, regulated quantities are allowed for reprocessing, bulk sales to unregulated vendors pose significant health risks.

“What we are seeing is bulk sales of MSG to illiterate traders who repackage it in plastic bags, often adding salt, and sell it in smaller quantities. It is also used to mask the spoilage of decaying food products,” Mr Azikiwe said.

He warned that prolonged consumption of such repackaged additives could damage vital organs and contribute to the rise of chronic illnesses.

Mr Azikiwe urged the public to avoid buying unregistered or repackaged food additives and always check for NAFDAC registration numbers for safety.

Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, an intelligence and enforcement officer with NAFDAC, revealed that the total market value of the confiscated products was estimated at N47.5 million.

(NAN)