Lafiya360 reports that the Agency made clarifications after a social media video showed a woman washing the Semovita in a sieve using cold water, and claiming that she sieved out plastic residues after washing.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement, disclosed that Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc., which produces Golden Penny Semovita, has been granted marketing authorization to manufacture the product and offer for sale in Nigeria.
The Agency, therefore, stated that the product is safe for consumption. It urged Nigerians to jettison the claim on the social media video.
It said: “The attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been drawn to a social media video showing a woman washing Golden Penny Semovita in a sieve using cold water.
“The woman claimed that the residue she got after sieving was plastic. A similar video was shown in 2020 and that led to a Press Release similar to this.
“Upon receiving the alerts from various quarters in the community in 2020, the Director General immediately gave a directive to conduct emergency post-marketing analysis using different brands of Semolina.
“The Agency investigated this claim by conducting appropriate analytical testing in her internationally accredited laboratories. The results showed that there was no plastic or any similar harmful contaminants in Golden Penny Semovita. It contained the expected components plus the required Vitamin A.
“Semolina has no plastic content in it; it only exhibits viscous and elastic properties. The rubbery-like material that was observed in the video after many washings with water is the gluten that formed after the gluten-forming proteins get mixed with water.
“NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that Golden Penny Semovita and indeed all other semolina products registered by the Agency are safe for human consumption having been so approved by the Agency, following science-driven regulatory diligence.
“Members of the public are implored to exercise discretion in the use of social media to address any suspicion they may have on regulated products. Resorting to social media has the tendency to cause fear and panic.
“Rather, they should contact the nearest NAFDAC office or contact NAFDAC via online channels at reforms@nafdac.gov.ng Or Call: 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322) for immediate response.”