by Blessing Ituma
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down four unregistered bakeries in Port Harcourt metropolis in her bid to stamp out the prevalence of quack and substandard bakeries in Rivers State.
NAFDAC Director, South-South Zone, Pharm Chukwuma Oligbu, said that the bakeries were operating without registration licenses and with very poor Good Hygienic Practice (GHP).”
“Pans with dough were kept on the floor, the make shift buildings were with open and uncovered windows, bakery workers were not well kitted with PPEs, lister generator sets were sited inside the production rooms and they were no factory flow etc,” the Director stated.
The bakeries shut down include He Reigns Bakery – Okabie Street, Rumuigbo; Dvine Freedom bread – 3 Omasi Street, Rumuomasi, De Heroes Bakery – Wonda Street, Psychiatric Road and The Lord’s Abundant Bakery – 5 Elder Ezebunwo Street, Rumuigbo, Port Harcout.
The four bakeries visited were subsequently shut down and the owners directed to report at the Zonal office for questioning while investigations continue. Samples of the produced bread were taken for laboratory analysis.
Pharm. Oligbu warned that defaulters of NAFDAC regulations risk prosecution and possible jail term when convicted; and therefore implores producers of NAFDAC regulated products to seek guidance by visiting the agency’s office for advice and supervisions in setting up their facilities/businesses adding that the agency will make Rivers state and the entire South-South Zone uncomfortable to producers who do not want to abide by NAFDAC’s standard.
