NAFDAC Alerts Consumers Over Fake ORACARE+ Toothpaste

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the circulation of suspected counterfeit toothpaste in the Nigerian market.

The agency specifically warned consumers against a product labelled ORACIRE+ Toothpaste. It said the product appears to have been distributed to look like the registered ORACARE+ Toothpaste.

NAFDAC said it received a formal complaint and market intelligence report about the suspected counterfeit product. The reports prompted surveillance activities in Lagos.

During the exercise, officials found the suspected product at Ojuwoye Market in Mushin, Lagos.

The agency said its packaging closely resembles that of the registered ORACARE+ Toothpaste. The similarity, it added, could make it difficult for consumers to tell both products apart.

NAFDAC therefore urged consumers to exercise caution when buying toothpaste and other regulated personal care products.

The agency said it had not verified the origin, ingredients, safety or quality of the suspected ORACIRE+ product.

It warned that counterfeit personal care products may fail to meet required safety and quality standards. Consumers could face health risks if they use products whose composition and manufacturing conditions remain unknown.

The latest alert adds to NAFDAC’s wider efforts to identify and remove substandard and falsified products from the Nigerian market.

The agency routinely uses post-market surveillance to detect products that do not meet regulatory requirements. Its current regulatory platforms also provide channels for verifying registered products and reporting suspected falsified products.

NAFDAC has previously warned that products marketed without proper regulatory approval can pose health risks because their safety, quality and effectiveness may not be guaranteed.

Following the discovery in Mushin, the agency directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to investigate the availability and distribution of the suspected counterfeit toothpaste.

The officials are expected to trace the product and take appropriate regulatory action where violations occur.

NAFDAC also appealed to consumers, healthcare providers, retailers and other stakeholders to remain vigilant.

It urged anyone who comes across the suspected product to report it to the nearest NAFDAC office.

The agency’s warning comes amid continued efforts to strengthen surveillance of products circulating outside approved regulatory channels.

NAFDAC maintains that effective market surveillance remains necessary to ensure that only products that meet required quality and safety standards reach consumers.

The agency advised consumers to check product details carefully before purchase and use NAFDAC’s product verification channels when necessary.