The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has explained that the registration evidence of Erisco Food Limited’s Nagiko Tomato Mix is not on its website because it has been dealing with “a massive backlog”.

On Wednesday, FIJ had revealed that the product at the centre of ongoing public discourse could not be found on the online database maintained by NAFDAC.

Following severe calls for NAFDAC’s explanation for the absence of the profuct its website, the agency has now responded.

In a series of posts on its X handle, NAFDAC said that the tin tomato product is a registered consumable safe for consumption. According to the product certificate posted along with the X posts, Erisco’s Nagiko Tomato approval will run until February 24, 2026.

READ ALSO: REVEALED: No Evidence of Erisco’s Nagiko Tomato Approval on NAFDAC’s Website

“Update on the Registration Status of Nagiko Tomato Mix. The product in question – Nagiko Tomato Mix by Erisco Foods Limited with NAFDAC Registration Number A8-7430 is a registered product,” read the post.

📢 Update on the Registration Status of Nagiko Tomato Mix.

The product in question – Nagiko Tomato Mix by Erisco Foods Limited with NAFDAC Registration Number A8-7430 is a registered product. pic.twitter.com/LBQgdTUWLT

— NAFDAC NIGERIA (@NafdacAgency) September 29, 2023

“The product is not yet on our database due to a significant backlog. We are actively updating the Registered Products Database and addressing the backlog.

“The formulation of tomato paste and ketchup products with sugar is safe for consumption. Sugar is added to these products for a number of reasons, including but not limited to masking bitterness, enhancing colour and flavour, improving texture and taste consistency, and as a preservative.

“The safety limits of sugar in food products are determined by NAFDAC, and only sugar-containing products within these safety limits are approved by NAFDAC.”

READ ALSO: Chioma Egodi Jnr’s Team Threatens Erisco Foods With N500m Lawsuit

Erisco was embroiled in a controversy following its petition to the Inspector-General of Police for the arrest of Chioma Egodi Jnr., a consumer who posted a review of the product on her Facebook profile after tasting sugar in it.

Following the petition, the police arrested Egodi Jnr. in Lagos, subsequently transferring her to Abuja. Egodi only regained her freedom after the intervention of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).