NAFDAC REFUTES CLAIMS OF APPROVING ‘HERBAL TEA’ PROMOTING SMOKING 15-12-24
By Sadiq Aminu The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to report suspicious claims or products through its official channels, reiterating its unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health.
The agency assured the public that it only approves safe, effective, and scientifically substantiated products.
This reassurance follows a viral social media video which alleged that NAFDAC approved a herbal product claiming that smoking could be made “healthy” when combined with its use.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, NAFDAC clarified that the product, identified as Lung Detox Tea or Lungitox (Smokers Pride), is not registered with the agency.
The statement revealed that the product’s registration application, submitted in 2023, was out rightly rejected at NAFDAC’s Lagos Office Directorate due to its unscientific and dangerous claims.
‘’The unscrupulous individual behind this product had submitted anti-smoke and lung detox tea for registration in 2023. It was queried at the Lagos Office Directorate LOD of NAFDAC and was not resubmitted for processing. The application was out rightly queried due to the unsubstantiated and dangerous claim that smoking could be made “healthy” by consuming the product.
‘’It should be noted that we don’t allow pictorial of organs on product artwork,’’ the statement read.
NAFDAC stressed that, as a scientific and professional regulatory body, it would never approve the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, or sale of products with unsubstantiated therapeutic claims.
The agency urged the public to disregard the misleading video and reaffirmed its commitment to taking decisive action against individuals or entities that attempt to violate public health standards.