The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public health alert following the discovery of a suspected revalidated pack of SMA Gold First Infant Milk Formula on sale in Kaduna State.
The warning comes after a four-month-old infant reportedly developed stomach complications after consuming the 900g tin of the formula.
According to the agency, a physical inspection of the product revealed visible signs of tampering. Investigators found that the manufacturing and expiry dates printed on a sticker affixed to the tin did not correspond with the original dates embossed beneath it.
“This confirms our suspicion that the product was revalidated and tampered with,” the agency stated.
SMA Gold First Infant Milk Formula is marketed as a nutritionally complete, whey-dominant formula designed to replicate the nutritional composition of breast milk for infants from birth to six months.
NAFDAC emphasized that the safety of infant formula depends strictly on adherence to regulatory standards. Any unauthorized alteration of expiry dates or shelf-life information, it warned, constitutes product adulteration and poses serious public health risks.
“False dating deceives caregivers and puts infants at risk,” the agency cautioned.
The regulator further explained that expired infant formula may harbor harmful microorganisms or suffer nutrient degradation. Such contamination is particularly dangerous for infants, whose immune systems are not fully developed.
The reported case of diarrhoea in the affected child, the agency noted, may be linked to product deterioration. It warned that similar incidents could escalate into severe health complications, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, secondary infections, and in extreme cases, death.
NAFDAC has urged healthcare professionals and members of the public to promptly report any suspected sale of substandard or falsified regulated products to its nearest office. Consumers are also encouraged to report adverse reactions or side effects associated with the use of the affected product.
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