Standards Organisation of Nigeria Certifies Nigeria-Made Micronutrient Powder

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has granted the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification to Cognito Instant Micronutrient Powder (Cognito® MNP) produced by Micronutrient Laboratories Limited (MLL).

According to the regulatory agency, the certificate gives the company the approval to produce micronutrient powder for use by Nigerians.

In a statement, Director of product certification department, SON Tersoo Orngudwen, said Micronutrient Laboratories Limited was granted the certification after a thorough factory inspection and the laboratory analysis of product samples.

On his part, the company’s chief innovation officer, Kenny Acholonu, said the product is designed to meet a pressing need of tackling infant malnutrition in Nigeria.

“It is a well-formulated single-serve blend of 15 essential micronutrients (10 vitamins and five minerals). It is a free-flowing powder that is conveniently packed in 1gram affordable sachets to improve the nutritional content of most staple foods.

“Users add the powder to semi-solid foods and porridges at the point of eating and at a temperature conducive to feeding the child,” Acholonu said.

Acholonu said a sachet of the powder is sufficient to provide 100 per cent recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for infants and young children within the age range of six months to 59 months.

“Users add the powder to complementary food for children after the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding. The addition of vitamins and minerals to enrich the nutrient content of food is one of the intervention strategies adopted by the Federal government to tackle malnutrition,” he added.

Speaking of how the product was birthed, Mr Acholonu said MLL launched its own brand of MNP at the 44th annual AGM and scientific conference of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) in 2020.