The National Food, Drug Administration and control, on Thursday warned bakers in Aba to desist from fumigating their bakeries with quacks or risk sanctions.

The NAFDAC Chief Regulatory Officer, Abia Office, Mr Udoekpo Ekpo, gave the warning in

Aba on the sidelines of NAFDAC’s meeting with members Association of Master Bakers, Aba chapter.

The regulatory officer said that henceforth, NAFDAC would not accept fumigation certificates issued to bakers by non-professionals.

He said that the move was necessary to reduce the risk of contamination of food in the factory after fumigation, saying that it could endanger the lives of bread consumers.

“We can no longer accept fumigation certificates from quacks because only professionals know how to do the fumigation without contaminating the bakery.”

Also speaking, Mrs Nkechi Ocho, the Director, Environmental Health Services, Aba South Local Government Area, said using professionals collectively would reduce cost for them.

Ocho warned them against allowing rats and other pests to inhabit their factories as they are known carriers of the Lassa Fever virus.

She urged them to keep their environment clean always in order not to transmit diseases to the public through their products, stressing that “the bakery is a public kitchen.”

Ocho also told them to get clarification from her office when faced with some fraudsters who claim to be government agents.

Responding, the National President, Association of Master Bakers of Nigeria, Sir Simeon Abanulo, said that the meeting was important to remind members of the importance of the safety of their customers.

He promised that the association would comply with the regulations to make life better for bread consumers and the work of the regulatory agencies easy. (NAN)