NAFDAC DG Mojisola Adeyeye Claims GMO Foods Are Safe For Nigerians

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerians that GMOs are safe to eat as long as proper safety checks and clear labelling are in place.

During an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye addressed growing concerns among Nigerians about the quality and safety of food items, especially those containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

She said, “GMOs are genetically modified foods when it comes to food, and they are not bad for us. They are not bad for us, depending on what type of foods they are and whether the safety considerations have been taken.”

She stressed that it’s important for consumers to be informed about what they are eating.

“The National Biosafety Management Agency—NBMA—is the agency charged with ensuring the safety of foods that have GMOs. We work in collaboration with them,” the NAFDAC chief said.

According to Adeyeye, NAFDAC does not approve any GMO-related food without clearance from NBMA.

When asked what Nigerians can do to ensure that the food they consume is healthy for them, Adeyeye said, “I’m a food freak. I want to know what I’m eating is going to give me a good health outcome.

“I look at the label. I want to be sure that NAFDAC’s label is on it, or if I’m outside the country—well, I don’t do a lot of shopping now, but before my time in NAFDAC, when I had all the time — I would look at the label. And it’s supposed to have ‘genetically modified food’ written on it.

“We work in collaboration with the Biosafety Management Agency. We have an MoU with them. They are mandated to ensure that the foods that have GMOs are of quality, they are safe, and they are efficacious.

“So, when you look at the food on the table in the market—especially grocery stores— you will see foods labeled organic. You put labels [on foods] that are not organic, and people have the choice to buy which one they want.”

The NAFDAC boss explained that while her agency ensures approved foods are safe, state-level agencies also have a role in food regulation and public health monitoring.

She reiterated that NAFDAC will only approve GMO foods after NBMA has confirmed their safety through lab testing or document reviews.

“But for NAFDAC, we are mandated to ensure that the food that we approve for the market is safe, is of quality, of course, and it is efficacious.

“So that is the reason why the collaboration between us and the NBMA is very solid.

“Without them certifying that they have done their due diligence in their laboratory for desk review or whatever, we cannot approve,” the professor said.

With increased concern about food safety in Nigeria’s markets, Adeyeye encouraged Nigerians to pay closer attention to labels and make informed choices based on the information provided.

Last month, the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) allayed fears over the safety of GMO foods.

KanyiDaily recalls that NAFDAC recently advised Nigerians against using the Nivea Black & White Invisible Roll-on deodorant, citing a recall issued by the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products.