The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a warehouse stocked with expired baby wipes worth approximately N42 million, which were intended for illegal revalidation and sale to unsuspecting consumers.
The regulatory agency made this disclosure on Monday, following a successful enforcement operation that led to the sealing of the facility and the evacuation of the dangerous goods.
During the raid, NAFDAC enforcement officers discovered over 240 cartons of expired baby wipes that had already been illegally revalidated and repackaged, alongside approximately 20,000 additional pieces of expired wipes, equivalent to 625 cartons awaiting revalidation.
One suspect was apprehended by the team at the scene of the crime, while the warehouse was immediately locked down.
The agency warned that the distribution and use of expired baby wipes pose severe health hazards, especially to infants and young children, owing to the breakdown of preservatives meant to inhibit microbial growth.
“The distribution and use of expired baby wipes pose significant health risks, particularly to infants and young children, including skin irritation, skin infections, allergic reactions, worsening of eczema or dermatitis, and an increased risk of diaper rash,” NAFDAC stated.
Reiterating its commitment to safeguarding public health, the agency vowed to prevent substandard, counterfeit, and expired regulated products from finding their way back into the retail market.
NAFDAC further urged members of the public to remain highly vigilant and report any suspicious packaging activities or questionable regulated products to the nearest agency office for prompt action.