The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed the Victoria Island outlet of popular confectionery and food company, Chocolat Royal, following the discovery of alleged expired, unregistered and unwholesome food products at the company’s premises and another location linked to its management.
The development is generating widespread attention in Lagos after NAFDAC officials reportedly evacuated large quantities of food products during an operation that lasted several hours.
According to reports from the operation, some of the products discovered had expired several years earlier, with some carrying expiry dates going as far back as 2004. NAFDAC officials also reportedly found products that were not registered with the agency.
The operation covered Chocolat Royal’s premises at 267A Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island, as well as a residence on Karimu Kotun Street linked to the company’s chairman, Amin Moussalli.
NAFDAC officials said illegal cold rooms were discovered at the locations, with some of the storage facilities allegedly situated close to toilets and on top of sewage areas.
The agency said the products were evacuated for further examination, while the affected premises were sealed pending the conclusion of investigations.
The operation reportedly followed information provided to the authorities concerning the company’s storage and handling of food products.
NAFDAC Raises Fresh Questions
According to the agency, some of the imported products found during the operation were expired and unregistered, while others allegedly had their expiry dates altered or revalidated.
Reports from the inspection also indicated that some products were not labelled in English, raising questions about their registration and regulatory status in Nigeria.
NAFDAC officials reportedly evacuated the seized products in several vehicles, with the estimated value put at more than N1 billion.
The agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement at the time, Kingsley Ejiofor, said the products would be subjected to laboratory analysis to determine their contents and establish the extent of any violations.
“The suspects will be interrogated, while the food products will be sampled and taken to the laboratory for analysis,” Ejiofor said in a statement reported at the time.
He added that the outcome of the investigation would determine whether the case would proceed to prosecution.
Staff Interrogated
The operation also reportedly resulted in the arrest of some staff members after NAFDAC officials encountered resistance while attempting to inspect parts of the premises.
Two cooks linked to the company were subsequently interrogated by the agency.
According to contemporary reports, one of the cooks acknowledged that some of the products had expired, while explaining that he was working under instructions.
The allegations and statements made during the operation were part of the material NAFDAC said it would examine as it investigated the matter.
Management Denies Using Expired Products
The management of Chocolat Royal subsequently disputed aspects of the allegations surrounding the products discovered during the operation.
In a statement issued after the incident, the company said the expired products were not used in preparing food or confectioneries for customers.
The management also described the NAFDAC action as a regulatory inspection and said it was prepared to cooperate with the agency.
“The items found were never used in preparing food or confectioneries,” the company said, according to reports published at the time.
It further said it would work with NAFDAC to address any regulatory issues identified during the inspection.
NAFDAC Promises Investigation
NAFDAC’s then Director-General, Paul Orhii, said the agency would investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery before deciding on further action.
Orhii reportedly said the products found were not registered with NAFDAC and that some had expired years earlier.
He also raised concerns about the reported storage of food products in facilities located near sewage areas, saying such conditions would raise regulatory and food-safety concerns.
The agency maintained that the outlet would remain closed while the investigation continued and that any decision on prosecution would depend on the outcome of the investigation.
The closure therefore placed the popular Victoria Island establishment at the centre of a major food-safety investigation, with NAFDAC officials examining both the products recovered and the conditions under which they were allegedly stored.
A Controversy That Draws Public Attention
Chocolat Royal had long been a prominent destination on Lagos’ social scene, particularly among residents and visitors to Victoria Island.
The NAFDAC action has consequently attracted considerable public interest, with attention now focused on the agency’s laboratory findings and the outcome of its investigation.
At the centre of the controversy is whether the products recovered during the operation were intended for use in the preparation of food and confectioneries sold to customers, an allegation the company denied.
NAFDAC’s investigation is expected to determine the regulatory status of the products, how they entered the country, how they were stored and whether any food-safety regulations were breached.
The agency had also indicated that anyone found culpable after investigation could face prosecution.
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