Pat Stevens/
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has alerted healthcare providers, caregivers, and the general public to the sale of expired SMA Gold First Infant Milk Formula whose dates were allegedly altered before being returned to the market.
In a public alert, the agency said the suspected product, a 900g pack of SMA Gold infant formula, was discovered in circulation in Kaduna State after a complaint linked it to illness in a baby.
According to NAFDAC, the case came to light after a four month old infant reportedly developed gastrointestinal distress after consuming the formula.
“NAFDAC is alerting healthcare providers, caregivers, and the public to a report of a suspected altered SMA Gold First Infant Milk Formula (900g) found for sale in Kaduna State, Nigeria,” the agency stated.
The regulator explained that a physical examination of the product confirmed signs that the date markings had been tampered with.
“Physical examination of the complaint product sample revealed clear indicators of date marking alteration. The manufacturing and expiry date on the top preprinted sticker was inconsistent with the underlying, originally printed version. This confirms the suspicion of date alteration and tampering,” the agency said.
NAFDAC explained that SMA Gold infant formula is designed as a nutritionally complete product for babies from birth to six months, formulated to closely mirror the nutritional profile of breast milk.
Because of this, it said the integrity of such products is crucial and must strictly comply with regulatory requirements.
“The integrity of the product is dependent on compliance with regulatory requirements. Any alteration or extension of the shelf life without regulatory approval poses significant risks to public health,” the agency warned.
The regulator described the practice of altering expiry dates on infant formula as a serious violation with multiple dangers.
“Alteration of date markings constitutes material misrepresentation of product quality and safety status. False dating misleads consumers regarding product freshness and nutritional integrity,” the agency said.
It added that expired infant formula could harbour microbial contamination and degraded nutrients, which may pose severe risks to babies whose immune systems are still developing.
“Infant formula is the primary nutritional source for many babies under six months. The reported adverse event of diarrhoea in a four month old infant suggests potential product deterioration that could lead to serious health issues,” NAFDAC said.
Among the possible consequences listed by the agency are acute gastroenteritis requiring hospitalisation, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition caused by reduced nutritional value, secondary infections in vulnerable infants, and in severe cases fatal outcomes if contamination with dangerous bacteria occurs.
The agency urged healthcare professionals and members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious products.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office,” it said, adding that complaints can also be made through its hotline and official reporting platforms.
NAFDAC further called on the public to report any adverse reactions linked to the product through its offices, its website reporting platforms, the Med Safety App, or via email.
The agency said such reports would help protect infants and strengthen efforts to keep unsafe products out of the Nigerian market.
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Infact this is common to those who owns supermarket ,once they see that most of their goods are about to expire they will alter the expiring date. Someone was even telling me they use spirit with cotton wool to erase the expiring date and put their preferred date. I think the government should have a boardy who will see to this. They should make it mandatory for them to visit super Mart every 6months and those people will act as a client who is coming to buy things from the mart. That’s my own submission. Ire ooo