Outrage Over TikTok Weight Gain Pap for Infants Sparks Call for NAFDAC Investigation in Nigeria
Nigerians are raising alarms regarding a weight gain pap for infants being marketed by a TikTok user, prompting calls for an investigation by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The controversy erupted after several users on X.com expressed concerns about the product’s safety, which is promoted as an “organic” solution for aiding infant weight gain.
Dr. Chinonso Egemba, a prominent Nigerian health influencer known as Aproko Doctor, took to X.com on Monday to urge NAFDAC to intervene. He stated, “Dear #NafdacAgency, I’m guessing this is within your purview. No one knows what is inside that pap. Also, this is setting these babies for damage.” His remarks followed alarmed posts from users such as #JaceTheJace and #Talk2veee, who highlighted the potential dangers of the product and shared videos initially posted by the TikTok seller, #purelyorganicc, showcasing babies purportedly consuming the pap.
One of the shared videos featured a caption that read, “POV: My customer’s baby while using our baby’s weight gain pap. Now tell me why you haven’t gotten our products yet. Baby is only four months old.” Another video claimed that a one-year-old child weighed a staggering 47 kg, stating, “He is currently weighing 47kg. That was last month when I checked, and he is only a year old.”
In response to these claims, #JaceTheJace remarked, “Can you just imagine this? We need to find a way to stop this person. She took the video off her page; this is the page in question.” Additionally, @Talk2veee questioned society’s fixation on having “chubby babies” and the risks tied to endorsing such products, asking, “What’s the obsession with chubby babies? Are slim babies unhealthy?” She also shared a WhatsApp screenshot from a parent who expressed satisfaction with the weight gain pap, stating, “We are four months. She is doing wonders. People dey gather her; they call her boss baby. Madam, what are you feeding her with? E choke, my baby na celeb everywhere we dey. The joy is heavenly.”
As discussions intensified, numerous Nigerians voiced their apprehensions about the possible negative impacts of such products, renewing the call for NAFDAC to take action. User #JaceTheJace noted, “She doesn’t even know what’s inside the so-called pap. I’ve emailed child help and domestic violence organisations; I don’t know who to reach out to again; we need to do something about this rubbish before babies start dying!”
Another contributor, #Razoredmanchi, criticized the misleading weight metrics presented by the seller, stating, “Nigerians are confusing KG with lbs; that baby is 47 pounds, roughly 21.3 kg, but that’s still too heavy for a child. They should arrest that seller. #NafdacAgency, see ooooooh. That’s to tell you how ‘illiterate’ the seller is. Such a person that doesn’t even know basic ‘weight/mass’ shouldn’t be making consumables for babies. #NafdacAgency, make una do something.”
Some users warned that marketing such products could exacerbate childhood obesity. #StephanieInii expressed concern, asking, “I wondered too, are these parents not aware that these are harmful to their health? Why subject these kids to early obesity?” Similarly, #ChineduMpamugo stated, “Having an extremely big infant is not a ‘flex’ as some think. What you need is a healthy child, not an obese one. Infant obesity poses short- and long-term risks, including chronic diseases later in life, especially when special weight gain products are used.”
User #loveanswersall reiterated, “How can a baby be weighing that much? My baby weighed 11 kg, and I was bothered about him being overweight. Now mothers go to any lengths to make their babies grow big.” #Queen_Ozioma added, “At this point, I believe people who sell this kind of product are using diabolical means to get their customers because no normal person would buy this for their baby.”
JaceTheJace further commented, “You need to see her comment section; more and more people are requesting it; some are even asking if she makes for adults.” Amara, tweeting as #Amy_beke, voiced her worries, stating, “Like honestly! Who knows what they put inside that pap? I feel bad for that child.”
TheoAbuAgada called for NAFDAC to investigate these claims and assess the safety of the product, writing, “Hello, #NafdacAgency, what are you doing about these vendors selling organic weight gain pap and feeding it to children? This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.” The
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