NAFDAC has issued a public alert warning Nigerians about the circulation of certain Dove soap and deodorant products containing a banned ingredient, urging consumers to discontinue use due to potential reproductive and skin sensitisation risks

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an urgent alarm over the circulation of certain Dove soap and deodorant products, warning that they may pose serious health risks to users in Nigeria.

The agency disclosed this critical information in a public alert issued on Monday from its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.

According to NAFDAC’s Public Alert No. 018/2025, European Union authorities have banned the marketing and sale of Dove Exfoliating Hand Soap (100g) and several Dove deodorant products in Brussels, Belgium, after confirming the presence of a prohibited ingredient.

“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is notifying the public that European Union Authorities have placed a ban on the marketing and sale of Dove Hand Soap (100g) and Dove Deodorant in Brussels, Belgium,” the statement read.

“The products do not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation as they are said to contain 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system, causing harm to the health of an unborn child, and may cause skin sensitisation.”

Affected Product Details:

Four product variants were specifically listed in the alert. Three of these originated from Italy, while the fourth was produced in the United Kingdom.

Products Not Registered in Nigeria:

NAFDAC emphasised that none of the listed items are present in its official database. Furthermore, the agency reiterated that the importation of soaps is prohibited in Nigeria under the nation’s restricted and import prohibition list.

Additionally, soaps and cosmetics are among the products deemed ineligible for foreign exchange to import into Nigeria.

NAFDAC strongly urged importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to avoid handling or distributing these unapproved products.

Those currently in possession of any of the affected Dove variants are advised to discontinue use immediately and submit them to the nearest NAFDAC office without delay.

The agency also called on healthcare professionals and the general public to report any adverse reactions experienced from these products via email at pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, through the E-reporting portal on www.nafdac.gov.ng, or via the Med-safety app, which is readily available on Android and iOS devices.

What You Should Know:

This alert follows a separate warning issued by NAFDAC regarding the recall of one batch of Juhel Folic Acid 5mg x1000 tablets, which was declared substandard.

As reported by Nairametrics, the affected batch was discovered during a Risk-Based Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) conducted in February 2025. Laboratory analysis revealed that the tablets contained low levels of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), falling short of the required quality standards.

A root cause analysis by the manufacturer, Juhel Pharma Ltd., traced the issue to a malfunction in the weight adjuster device of the tableting machine. Consequently, the company has initiated a recall of the product batch with Lot Number 0531.

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NAFDAC cautioned that using substandard medicines can lead to serious health risks, including poisoning, treatment failure, drug resistance, and in severe cases, death.