The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to disregard a viral list circulating on social media that allegedly identifies fake, adulterated and substandard products in the country.

The agency said the list did not originate from NAFDAC and should not be treated as an official safety alert, product recall or regulatory communication.

The warning was contained in a statement issued by the agency’s resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, in Abuja.

According to the statement, NAFDAC does not declare products fake or unsafe based solely on claims circulating on social media. Such allegations must undergo appropriate investigations, product sampling and scientific laboratory verification before any regulatory conclusion is reached.

The agency explained that its official communications provide specific and verifiable information whenever a product or batch is confirmed to be substandard, falsified, adulterated or otherwise unsafe for public consumption.

NAFDAC consequently advised Nigerians to refrain from sharing or amplifying the circulating list, warning that unverified claims could create unnecessary public anxiety, mislead consumers and damage the reputation of legitimate manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

It stressed that the appearance of a product’s name or photograph on a social media list does not, in itself, establish that the product is counterfeit or unsafe.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health through surveillance, scientific assessments and enforcement actions against products found to violate established safety and quality standards.

It also encouraged consumers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, distributors and other stakeholders to obtain information about product alerts, recalls, withdrawals and suspensions through NAFDAC’s official communication channels.

The agency, however, welcomed reports from members of the public about suspected counterfeit or adulterated products, noting that such reports could assist regulatory investigations when subjected to proper verification.

NAFDAC urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it to prevent misinformation and ensure that genuine public health warnings are distinguished from unsubstantiated allegations.