FCCPC orders oil, salt producers to ensure full mineral fortification
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed producers of vegetable oil and salt to fully fortify their products with essential minerals, following a survey that found some samples inadequately fortified in Nigerian markets.
In a release dated Thursday, 5 November 2026, the Commission said the study, conducted in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), examined samples collected from random markets and homes in northern and southern Nigeria over a two-month period.
Analysis of 200 samples (100 each of vegetable oil and salt) showed that 12 per cent of the oils and 2 per cent of the salts were inadequately fortified at household level.
Large-scale food fortification involves deliberately adding vitamins and minerals such as iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine to staple foods and condiments during industrial processing.
It aims to tackle micronutrient deficiencies, often called “hidden hunger,” which affect people worldwide, including pre-school children and women of reproductive age.
“Consumers should be able to trust the quality of the products they buy and the benefits those products are expected to provide,” said FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Mr Tunji Bello.
He added that consumer protection goes beyond resolving complaints or tackling harmful business practices.
“It also involves ensuring that consumers are not denied the value and benefits they are entitled to expect from products in the marketplace.”
Bello further stressed that businesses have a responsibility to maintain appropriate quality standards and ensure their products meet applicable requirements.
The national food policy requires manufacturers to fortify these products. Of the 100 vegetable oil samples, 49 were unbranded and 51 branded including brands such as Devon Kings, Power Oil and others.
Salt samples included both unbranded and branded products, notably Mr Chef and Dangote.
The survey also highlighted limited registration of manufacturers on the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform developed by GAIN. Only six vegetable oil producers had registered, and few results were uploaded.
The Commission has issued a directive compelling defaulting producers to comply and has escalated the matter to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) under their existing Memorandum of Understanding.
Nigeria has long pursued mandatory large-scale food fortification of staples including vegetable oil (primarily with vitamin A), salt (with iodine), flour and sugar as a cost-effective public health strategy against micronutrient deficiencies.
Regulatory frameworks under NAFDAC and related standards require these additions.
Compliance has varied over the years, with past surveys and recent reports noting gaps in actual nutrient levels in household samples, particularly for vitamin A in oils.
GAIN has supported Nigerian agencies, including through traceability tools and funding for monitoring and laboratory capacity, to strengthen the programme.
