How Expired Food Products Are Finding Their Way Back Into Nigerian Homes
AgricNews Digest
It is happening quietly, and it is happening everywhere. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has raised the alarm repeatedly in recent years that products meant to be destroyed as waste are re-entering the food chain. From open markets in Lagos to warehouses in Niger State, expired food items are being repackaged, relabeled, and sold to unsuspecting consumers. For millions of Nigerian households already battling inflation and rising food costs, the danger is not always visible on the shelf.
NAFDAC has warned that a major source of the problem is poor disposal by manufacturers. Rather than incinerate or safely destroy expired goods, some companies dump them where scavengers retrieve and resell them. In other cases, cartons are stolen directly from company warehouses and moved through informal distribution networks. Once a product leaves the manufacturer’s control without proper documentation, its history disappears. By the time it reaches the consumer, the original packaging, batch number, and expiry date are gone.
This is now the most common method, and it is thriving in major food hubs. Investigations by AgricNews Digest found that products such as cornflakes, oats, semolina, powdered milk, tea, and macaroni are removed from sealed cartons at the distributor level. They are transported in large sacks to markets There, traders scoop them into cups and nylon bags, often with handwritten labels like “Milk” or “Cornflakes” pasted on empty containers.
The danger is that all traceability is lost. The NAFDAC registration number, manufacturing date, and expiry date that the law requires are stripped away. Yet demand remains high because these unbranded alternatives are cheaper, and they provide relief for families trying to manage tight budgets in the current economy.
According to NAFDAC some merchants deliberately hold expired products in storage and later reintroduce them to the market. Others conceal the goods until public scrutiny fades. The agency has described this as a deliberate act of deception, where expired items are positioned as safe for consumption. In one enforcement operation in Niger State, NAFDAC sealed 18 warehouses containing more than N100 million worth of expired drinks, milk, water, and pasta that had already been repackaged for distribution.
The problem is not limited to open markets. Reports from Healthwise and other outlets have documented cases of Lagos supermarkets selling expired groceries under “bargain” promotions. Consumer rights advocates note that while small vendors often face harassment, large retail chains sometimes receive minimal sanctions. This disparity weakens enforcement and sends the wrong signal across the value chain.
Three factors continue to drive this trade. The first is Nigeria’s cost of living crisis. As food prices climb, many consumers turn to cheaper, unbranded options without asking questions about origin or safety. The second is inconsistent enforcement. While the law provides penalties, weak follow-through creates room for abuse. The third is simple market demand. As long as there are buyers for cheap food, there will be suppliers willing to cut corners to meet that demand.
Under the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act, the sale of expired or unwholesome food is a criminal offence. Conviction can attract a fine of up to N500,000 or a prison term of between 5 and 15 years. NAFDAC, in collaboration with police task forces, has the authority to seize products and seal premises. The agency reports that it has destroyed over N5 billion worth of fake and expired products in recent crackdowns and has vowed to sanction manufacturers that fail to meet disposal standards.
Health professionals warn that consuming expired food can lead to serious health outcomes, ranging from food poisoning to organ damage and, in severe cases, death. Without proper labeling, consumers cannot verify storage conditions or know if a product has begun to deteriorate. This is why NAFDAC mandates that all packaged foods must display production details, ingredients, and expiry dates. Those details are not bureaucracy. They are the tools that allow regulators to trace and recall products when contamination occurs.
Protection begins at the point of purchase. Consumers should look for a valid NAFDAC registration number on every packaged product. The agency has been clear: without that number, safety cannot be guaranteed. It is also important to avoid buying staple foods sold loose in cups or open sacks, because once repackaged, all information about origin and expiry is lost. Always check the expiry date and batch number before paying, and buy from stores where you can ask questions and demand accountability. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Finally, reporting is critical. NAFDAC depends on public intelligence to identify and close outlets dealing in fake or expired goods.
For many Nigerians, feeding a family with dignity on a limited budget is already difficult. The last thing anyone needs is to bring danger into the home with the food. Awareness, vigilance, and strong enforcement remain the best defense against this growing threat.
