National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday debunked claims Golden Penny Semovita contains plastic or contaminants.
It said NAFDAC had to address the issue as a social media video showed a woman washing Semovita in a sieve using cold water, and claiming she sieved out plastic residues after washing.
Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement, said Flour Mills Nigeria, the manufacturer, has been granted marketing authorisation for the product and offer for sale in Nigeria.
NAFDAC, stressing the claim on the video is misleading, urged Nigerians to remain calm, and that there is no cause for apprehension.
It said: “The attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has been drawn to a social media video showing a woman washing Golden Penny Semovita in a sieve using cold water.
“The woman claimed the residue she got after sieving was plastic. A similar video was shown in 2020 and that led to a statement similar to this.
“Upon receiving the alerts from in 2020, the director general gave a directive to conduct emergency post-marketing analysis using different brands of Semolina.
“The agency investigated this claim by conducting analytical testing in its accredited laboratories. The results showed there was no plastic or contaminants in Golden Penny Semovita. It contained the components plus the required Vitamin A.
“Semolina has no plastic content in it; it only exhibits viscous and elastic properties. The rubbery-like material observed in the video after washing with water is the gluten that formed after the gluten-forming proteins get mixed with water.
“NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public Golden Penny Semovita and other Semolina products registered by the agency are safe for human consumption having been approved by the agency, after science-driven regulatory diligence.
“The public should exercise discretion in use of social media to address suspicion they may have on regulated products. Resorting to social media can cause fear and panic.
“Rather, they should contact NAFDAC office or contact NAFDAC via online channels at reforms@nafdac.gov.ng Or Call: 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322) for response.”
