The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has affirmed that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food are safe for human consumption when proper safety protocols are followed. She made this statement during an interview on Thursday.
“GMOs are genetically modified foods when it comes to food, and they are not bad for us. They’re not. They are not bad for us, depending on what type of foods they are and whether these safety considerations have been taken,” Adeyeye explained, emphasizing that the safety of GMO foods hinges on the type of food and adherence to safety measures.
Adeyeye highlighted the role of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) as the primary authority responsible for ensuring the safety of GMO foods in Nigeria. She noted that NAFDAC collaborates closely with NBMA through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). “They are mandated to ensure that the foods that have GMO are of quality, they are safe,” she said.
A self-described “food freak,” Adeyeye stressed the importance of transparency in food labeling, particularly for GMO products. “I want to know that what I’m eating is going to give me a good health outcome. I look at the label. I want to be sure that the NAFDAC label is on it,” she said, adding that she has long checked food labels for GMO information, which should be clearly indicated.
While acknowledging consumers’ freedom to choose between organic and non-organic foods, Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that all food products in the Nigerian market are safe, of high quality, and thoroughly vetted. “Our goal… we are mandated to ensure that the foods that we approve for the market are safe, they are of quality, of course, and they are efficacious,” she stated.
Adeyeye underscored the strong collaboration between NAFDAC and NBMA, noting that NAFDAC will not approve GMO foods without NBMA’s certification of safety through rigorous laboratory testing or review processes. “It is a joint collaboration between us and Biosafety,” she concluded.
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