Knowledge and Compliance of Food Vendors with NAFDAC Food Safety Regulations in Katsina State

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control provides the primary regulatory framework for food safety in Nigeria, but vendor-level compliance with its requirements varies substantially across regions. This study assessed the knowledge and compliance of food vendors with NAFDAC food safety regulations in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional study enrolled 120 registered and unregistered food vendors from seven local government areas. A structured questionnaire evaluated knowledge of NAFDAC registration requirements, labeling standards, hygiene requirements, and permissible food additives. Compliance was assessed through observation and documentation review. A food sample from each vendor was subjected to rapid microbiological quality testing using portable ATP bioluminescence equipment. Knowledge of NAFDAC regulations was adequate in only 26.7% of vendors, and only 38.3% of registered food businesses held valid NAFDAC registrations. Labeling non-compliance was observed in 71.7% of packaged products. ATP bioluminescence scores indicated unacceptable hygiene levels at food preparation surfaces in 60.8% of sampled vendors. The study concludes that food vendor knowledge of and compliance with NAFDAC regulations in Katsina State is low. Recommendations include targeted vendor training programs co-facilitated by NAFDAC and local government, incentive programs for regulatory compliance, and increase in NAFDAC's field inspection presence in secondary cities and rural markets. Keywords: NAFDAC regulations, food vendor compliance, food safety, Katsina State, regulatory knowledge