The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken action to alert the public regarding the recalled G Fuel brand Energy Drinks by T&E Imports and GPAE Trading Corp., which have been found to contain elevated levels of caffeine. NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, issued a public alert (No. 034/2023) in Abuja to disseminate this crucial information.
The NAFDAC Director-General highlighted that the recall of this product was also prompted by notifications from two international agencies: the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The key concern is that the high caffeine content in these energy drinks can lead to various adverse effects, including headaches, insomnia, irritability, and nervousness.
Prof Adeyeye emphasised that individuals who are particularly sensitive to caffeine can experience these effects even with minimal consumption. Furthermore, pregnant women are urged to avoid these products due to the potential health risks associated with excessive caffeine intake, such as an increased risk of miscarriage and the possibility of low birth weight.
One concerning aspect of these products is the absence of cautionary statements that would limit the number of servings per day, especially considering their availability online. Furthermore, NAFDAC has not registered these products, leading to a strong recommendation for consumers and retailers to discontinue the use, sale, service, or distribution of the implicated G Fuel Energy Drinks.
To facilitate consumer reporting and safety, the public is encouraged to report any suspicious distribution and sale of unwholesome packaged food products to the nearest NAFDAC office. NAFDAC can be reached via phone at 0800-162-3322 or by email at sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. Healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects associated with the use of any substandard NAFDAC-regulated product to the nearest NAFDAC office.
For added convenience, NAFDAC has established e-reporting platforms on their website, www.nafdac.gov.ng, and offers the Med-Safety application for download on Android and iOS stores. Concerned individuals can reach out to NAFDAC via email at pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, further ensuring that public health remains a top priority.
