The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has cautioned bakery and confectionery operators against compromising food safety or misleading consumers as production costs rise.
FCCPC’s Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, gave the warning on Tuesday in Lagos at a stakeholders’ engagement with bakery and confectionery operators, organised by the commission's South-West Zonal Office.
Bello, represented by the commission’s South-West Zonal Coordinator, Olubunmi Otti, said rising costs of flour, sugar, energy, transportation, packaging, equipment and financing could pressure businesses, but such challenges could not justify practices that endanger consumers.
“When input costs rise, businesses cannot resort to unsafe substitutes, harmful or prohibited additives, poor-quality ingredients, compromised hygiene, manipulated expiry information or other shortcuts that transfer commercial risks to consumers,” he said.
He warned operators against inaccurate product claims on weight, ingredients, shelf life, allergens and storage conditions, saying what businesses tell consumers on labels, packaging, social media or advertising must match what they actually supply.
Bello said the commission’s position mattered because bakery products are consumed daily by millions of Nigerians, including children, and that food safety cannot be sacrificed for profit.
“Quality cannot simply be checked at the end of the production line. It has to be built into the entire production process,” he said.
Bello Cites Obligations Under Consumer Protection Act, Urges Traceability
Bello urged operators to ensure proper sourcing, storage and handling of ingredients, maintain hygienic production environments and strengthen staff practices.
He advised businesses to build traceability systems capable of identifying affected production batches, ingredients used and where products were distributed, in case a safety concern arises.
Manufacturers and distributors that become aware of hazards linked to products already on the market have an obligation under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, Nigeria’s principal law governing fair trade and consumer rights, to notify the public and withdraw affected products, Bello said.
He urged bakers to treat consumer complaints as early warning signals rather than attacks on their businesses, since repeated complaints could expose defective batches, poor packaging or discrepancies between declared and actual product weights.
The FCCPC boss said effective consumer protection also shields responsible businesses from unfair competition by operators who cut corners for commercial advantage.
“The FCCPC wants businesses in this sector to prosper. We want to see them expand, innovate, employ more Nigerians and build brands that endure,” Bello said, adding that the commission would continue to engage businesses constructively but would enforce the law where consumers are exposed to unsafe products or deceptive practices.
He challenged operators to review their operations from sourcing to labelling and complaint handling, posing a practical test: “If I knew everything about how this product was made, would I confidently serve it to my own family?”
Bello said building consumer trust required more than advertising, noting that confidence is earned when products match their descriptions and businesses accept responsibility when problems occur.
