Foods that are modified genetically are safe for consumption, but …, Nafdac provides clarification

The Director General of the National Agency for Administration and Medicine and Medicine Control (Nafdac), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has stressed that genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food are not harmful to human health, provided that appropriate safety protocols are strictly observed.

Speaking during an interview broadcast television on television channels on Thursday, Prof. Adeyeye clarified broad concerns about GMO, emphasizing that their safety is very dependent on the type of food in question and whether the evaluation of the rules and biosafety needed has been carried out.

“GMO is a genetically modified food when it comes to food, and they are not bad for us. They are not,” he said. “They are not bad for us, depending on what type of food they are and whether this safety consideration has been taken.”

Adeyeye further explained that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) was the main regulatory agency assigned to oversee the safety of GMO products in Nigeria. Nafdac, he said, worked in a close collaboration with NBMA to ensure that only GMO food products were examined thoroughly and certified as approved for market consumption.

“We have an MoU with them. They are mandated to ensure that foods that have quality GMO, they are safe,” he said.

Repeating his personal commitment to food safety, Prof. Adeyeye described himself as a “food freak,” highlighting his pressure on transparency and food choices that were informed.

“I want to know that what I eat will give me good health results. I see the label. I want to ensure that the Nafdac label is on it,” he said, adding that he had made it a habit, even before his term of office as a director, to verify whether the food label shows the ingredients that are genetically modified.

He stressed that all products containing GMOs must be labeled correctly, giving consumers the freedom to choose between food products that are genetically and organic or conventional.

While acknowledging a public debate about GMO, Adeyeye reiterated that the role of Nafdac was not to support or reject food based on its production methods, but to ensure that all food in the Nigeria market meets safety standards, quality, and strict efficacy standards.

“For Nafdac, our goal, we are mandated to ensure that the food we approve for the safe market, they are quality, and they are effective,” he said.

He added that no GMO food products were approved by Nafdac without certification from NBMA, strengthening the collaborative nature of the regulatory process.

“So that’s the reason why the collaboration between us and NBMA is very, very solid. Without them declaring that they have conducted their thorough tests … we cannot approve it,” he concluded.

Prof.’s statement Adeyeye came in the midst of an ongoing debate about the existence of GMO in the Nigerian food system. While some consumer advocacy groups have declared skepticism, regulatory authorities continue to emphasize that GMO products that are approved for consumption in Nigeria are subject to international safety standards and strict scientific reviews.