NAFDAC Alerts Public Over Recall of Citro-Soda Batches

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted healthcare providers, distributors and consumers to the recall of specific batches of Citro-Soda Regular following a potential contamination risk identified at a manufacturing facility in South Africa.

The agency disclosed the development on Tuesday in a public alert posted on its verified X account, stating that it had been notified by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAPHRA) about the recall.

According to NAFDAC, the affected products were manufactured at the Adcock Ingram Clayville facility in Johannesburg and are being recalled in South Africa as a precautionary measure.

Citro-Soda is an effervescent urinary alkaliniser and gastric antacid commonly used to relieve heartburn, indigestion and symptoms associated with urinary tract infections(UTI) by neutralising excess acid in the body.

NAFDAC warned that the use of contaminated medicinal products could pose serious health risks.

“The use of contaminated medicinal products poses a severe risk to public health, with the potential to cause acute toxicity, long-term health complications, or death,” the agency stated.

The regulator explained that the recall affects only Citro-Soda Regular products manufactured at the Clayville plant.

It said the affected products include all batches with batch numbers beginning with the letter “C”, expiry dates on or before November 2027, and pack sizes of 60g, 120g and 4g x 30 sachets.

NAFDAC stressed that the recall specifically concerns the Regular flavour of the product.

“It is important to stress that the recall was conducted in South Africa, and the implicated batches were produced in the Adcock Ingram Clayville manufacturing facility in Johannesburg,” the agency noted.

As part of measures to prevent the circulation of the affected products, NAFDAC said all its zonal directors and state coordinators had been directed to intensify surveillance activities and remove the recalled products wherever they are found.

The agency also urged importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, caregivers and consumers to exercise caution across the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale or use of the affected batches.

It advised members of the public to purchase medicines only from authorised and licensed suppliers and to carefully verify the authenticity and physical condition of medical products before use.

NAFDAC further called on healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspected sale of substandard or falsified medicines and other regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office.

The agency said reports could also be made through its toll-free line, email channels and adverse drug reaction reporting platforms, including the Med Safety application and its online reporting portal.

According to the agency, the notice will also be uploaded to the World Health Organization’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) as part of international efforts to monitor and prevent the circulation of potentially unsafe medical products.

NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to protecting public health through effective regulation of food, medicines and other regulated products to ensure that only quality products are manufactured, imported, distributed and used in Nigeria.