NIGERIA- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Consumer Protection Council (CPC) have shut down Kripsy Kreme Doughnuts confectionary in Victoria Island, Lagos over use of expired fillings and imposed expiry dates, BBC reports.

The move was announced after NAFDAC and CPC visited the premises to conduct a quality inspection on their products and facilities and operations.

The company was accused of using expired doughnut mix and fillings used in producing doughnuts, as well as surreptitious replacement of the expiry date of materials by superimposing new expiry stickers on products in clear violation of the law.

“Even if the products will pass a test, is it ok for the company to conceal the real expiry date, and attempt to convey the products as within inventory control expiration time?

“Isn’t it enough that Krispy Kreme tampered with the information providing expiry date? The legitimate date is the ‘use by: 03/07/2018.

It is on the bag from the manufacturer.

“The white sticker which says Best before: 30/09/2018 wad printed by Krispy Kreme and imposed on the original date to conceal it, and portray the white sticker as the manufacturer’s suggested date,” said CPC Director General, Babatunde Irukera in a tweet.

The consumer watchdog alleged that the raw material ingredients used by the doughnut company had passed their expiry date prompting them to close the facility on account of serious regulatory violations.

Krispy Kreme, an American doughnut company and coffeehouse chain entered into the Nigerian market with its first store at the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos in March this year.

The company then said it had signed a development agreement with Quality Foods Africa (QFA) to open 20 Krispy Kreme stores across the country in the next five years.

Krispy Kreme noted it has invested US$7 million in its Nigerian operation and will be offering consumers 16 different varieties of doughnuts as well as Nigerian blended coffee.