NAFDAC Orders Precautionary Recall of Aptamil, Cow & Gate Infant Formula Over Contamination Risk
Nigeria's drug regulatory authority has issued public health alerts for specific batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant milk formulas due to potential contamination concerns, affecting products distributed across the country's retail channels.
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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a precautionary recall notice for specific batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant and follow-on milk formulas, citing potential contamination concerns that could pose health risks to vulnerable infants and young children across Nigeria.
The regulatory action, announced on February 25, 2026, affects multiple product lines from the two prominent infant nutrition brands, both owned by Danone Nutricia. NAFDAC's directive requires immediate removal of affected batches from retail shelves and distribution channels nationwide, according to statements published by Nairametrics.
Regulatory Response and Market Impact
NAFDAC's intervention represents the agency's heightened vigilance following international food safety protocols established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The recall encompasses products that entered Nigerian markets through authorized importation channels, affecting inventory held by pharmacies, supermarkets, and specialized baby product retailers.
Nigeria's infant formula market, valued at approximately $450 million annually according to Euromonitor International data, relies heavily on imported products due to limited domestic manufacturing capacity. Aptamil and Cow & Gate command significant market share among premium infant nutrition brands preferred by middle and upper-income Nigerian families.
The contamination alert follows established regulatory frameworks requiring manufacturers to notify authorities immediately upon discovering potential quality or safety issues. While NAFDAC has not specified the nature of the contamination in its initial public advisory, precautionary recalls typically involve microbial contamination, foreign matter detection, or nutritional composition deviations from declared specifications.
Consumer Protection and Distribution Channels
NAFDAC has instructed consumers who purchased affected batches to discontinue use immediately and return products to points of purchase for full refunds. The agency emphasized that parents and caregivers should verify batch numbers against the recall list before feeding infants with existing stock.
Nigeria's pharmaceutical distribution network, which handles infant formula alongside medicines, operates through approximately 8,500 registered pharmacies and thousands of licensed retail outlets. The recall mechanism requires distributors to trace product movement from port entry through wholesale networks to final retail points, a process that typically takes 7-14 days for complete market withdrawal.
The financial implications extend beyond immediate recall costs to encompass potential brand reputation damage in Nigeria's competitive infant nutrition sector. Danone reported African revenues of €1.2 billion in its 2025 fiscal year, with Nigeria representing a strategic growth market where infant formula demand continues rising alongside urbanization and increasing female workforce participation.
Regulatory Framework and Industry Standards
NAFDAC's recall authority derives from the NAFDAC Act of 1993 (as amended), which grants the agency powers to regulate food products, drugs, and medical devices. The organization has intensified enforcement activities since 2023, conducting increased laboratory testing of imported infant formulas following global contamination incidents in European and Asian markets.
Industry data shows Nigeria imports approximately 85% of consumed infant formula, with European manufacturers supplying roughly 60% of market volume. The Central Bank of Nigeria allocated $180 million in foreign exchange for infant formula imports during 2025, reflecting the product category's classification as essential goods eligible for preferential forex access.
The recall underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria's food safety infrastructure, where cold chain limitations and counterfeit product circulation complicate regulatory oversight. NAFDAC maintains 36 laboratories nationwide for product testing, though capacity constraints mean only 15-20% of imported food shipments undergo comprehensive analysis before market release.
Healthcare professionals have advised parents unable to access safe infant formula alternatives to consult pediatricians for appropriate feeding recommendations. Nigeria's exclusive breastfeeding rate stands at 29% for infants under six months, according to UNICEF data, leaving significant populations dependent on commercial formula products for infant nutrition.
NAFDAC indicated it will publish detailed batch numbers and product specifications on its official website and through healthcare provider networks. The agency has established a dedicated hotline for consumer inquiries and adverse event reporting related to the recalled products.