Fake Cerelac Baby Food Found in Lagos — NAFDAC Warning (Public Alert No. 018/2026)
NAFDAC has confirmed counterfeit Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat is circulating in Lagos markets with tampered expiry dates and fuel contamination. If you have Cerelac at home right now, here is the one thing you must check before feeding it to your child.
What This Alert Is About
NAFDAC has issued a critical public health alert warning Nigerian parents, carers, and healthcare providers about the circulation of counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac mixed fruits and wheat products in Lagos State.
This is NAFDAC Public Alert No. 018/2026. If you have recently purchased Cerelac, read this alert carefully before giving it to your child.
What Happened?
Nestlé Nigeria Plc, the authorised Marketing Authorisation Holder for Cerelac in Nigeria, received a formal complaint from a consumer who purchased a suspicious product at Maxland Shopping Centre, 193 Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.
The consumer reported that the product emitted an unusual odour, suggesting possible contact with fuel. Following the complaint, NAFDAC's Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate officers conducted a surveillance visit to the retail outlet and found counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac products on sale. The products were immediately removed from circulation.
Preliminary checks by Nestlé Nigeria confirmed that the product had already expired, despite the container displaying an expiry date of October 2026. This indicates that the date coding on the packaging had been tampered with and revalidated to deceive the public.
The Specific Product to Watch Out For
The counterfeit product is described as follows:
Product Name
Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat
Batch Code
308002910
Claimed Manufacturer
The fake product claims to be manufactured by Nestlé Spain. This is false. Nestlé Nigeria has confirmed it is not aware of the channels through which this product was supplied into Nigeria and has not authorised its distribution.
Physical Warning Sign
The counterfeit Cerelac emits a pungent, chemical odour suggestive of fuel contamination. If you open a can of Cerelac and notice an unusual smell, do not feed it to your child.
How to Tell the Genuine Cerelac from the Fake
Nestlé Nigeria and NAFDAC have identified one key distinguishing feature that every parent and caregiver should memorise.
Date Formatting
Look at the date printed on your Cerelac can. Pay attention to the format used to separate the numbers.
The genuine, registered Cerelac uses a slash (/) to separate the day from the year. For example, it reads: 10/2026.
The counterfeit product uses a hyphen to separate the digits. It reads: 10-2026.
This is the single fastest way to identify whether your Cerelac is real or fake. If the date on your can uses a hyphen instead of a slash, the product is not genuine.
Why This Is Dangerous for Your Child
Cerelac is one of the most widely purchased infant cereals in Nigeria. It is typically the first solid food given to babies from six months onwards, during a period when proper nutrition is critical for brain development, growth, and immunity.
NAFDAC has warned that counterfeit infant food products may lack essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins required for healthy infant development. Consuming such products can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth, developmental challenges, illness, and, in severe cases, life-threatening health complications.
A product that has been exposed to fuel or chemical contamination poses additional risks including poisoning and damage to the digestive system of infants whose organs are still developing.
What You Must Do Now
If You Have This Product at Home
Stop using it immediately. Do not give it to your child under any circumstances. Do not attempt to smell or taste it yourself to verify contamination.
Check the date format.,
Inspect the date on your Cerelac right now. If it uses a hyphen instead of a slash, put the product aside and do not use it.
Report It
Call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 (toll free) or send an email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. You can also use the Report Fake feature on VerifyProduct.ng to flag the product and the seller.
Report the Seller
If you purchased from a shop, provide NAFDAC with the name and address of that shop. NAFDAC's zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to conduct surveillance and mop-up operations across Nigeria.
Seek Medical Advice
If your child has already consumed this product and is showing any unusual symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, or unusual skin reactions, take them to a hospital or clinic immediately.
Where to Buy Cerelac Safely
Always purchase Cerelac and all infant food products from authorised supermarkets, registered pharmacies, and reputable retail outlets.
Avoid buying baby food from open markets, social media vendors, or unverified shops.
If in doubt about a product, do not buy it. The cost of replacing a tin of Cerelac is far less than the cost of treating a sick child.
Source
This article is based on NAFDAC Public Alert No. 018/2026, issued in March 2026, and corroborated by reports from Nestlé Nigeria Plc, the legitimate marketing authorisation holder for Cerelac in Nigeria.
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