The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has addressed a viral social media video asserting that Golden Penny Semovita contains plastic or harmful substances. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has urged the public to disregard these claims and to be cautious when relying on social media for information about regulated products.
The video shows a woman washing Golden Penny Semovita in a sieve with cold water, alleging the presence of plastic in the residue. However, NAFDAC conducted a thorough investigation and found no evidence of plastic or any harmful substances in Golden Penny Semovita. The agency used internationally accredited laboratories to perform analytical testing on various brands of Semolina, including Golden Penny Semovita, and confirmed its safety.
Semovita is a popular wheat flour known as semolina, widely consumed worldwide. It mainly consists of water, carbohydrates, and gluten-forming proteins, which give it its unique properties. Gluten is composed of two protein classes, glutenin and gliadin, which combine with water to create a protein network responsible for the viscoelastic properties of semolina-based products. The rubbery appearance observed in the video is a result of gluten forming when mixed with water during the washing process. Importantly, semolina does not contain plastic; the rubbery appearance is due to its natural viscous and elastic characteristics.
NAFDAC emphasizes that Golden Penny Semovita is safe for consumption and contains all the expected components, including the required Vitamin A. The agency advises the public to rely on credible sources of information and refrain from spreading misleading claims on social media.
To conclude, NAFDAC has verified that Golden Penny Semovita does not contain plastic or harmful contaminants, and they urge the public to dismiss the claims made in the viral video. Semovita, being a semolina-based product, displays viscous and elastic properties due to gluten formation, not because of any plastic content. Consumers can continue to enjoy this popular flour with confidence in its safety.
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