Consumer Protection Council Calls For Further Investigation On Benzoic Acid In Soft Drinks
In line with the ongoing controversy over the health implication of the level of benzoic acid in Fanta, Sprite, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has called for further investigation.
Recall that a Lagos State High Court had recently ruled that some of the soft drinks being consumed in the country may be poisonous due to excessive levels of benzoic acid and sunset additives.
Mrs. Dupe Atoki, Director General, CPC, made this call on Tuesday while speaking after the conclusion of its investigations on the issue.
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According to Atoki, though investigations carried out by CPC revealed that the level of Benzoic Acid contained in Sprite and Fanta are within the approved 250mg/L limit of Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS), there is need for further analysis by relevant authorities.
“The products have complied with the level that the NIS has provided. They are within acceptable standards. However, we found out that the content is low, I am not raising a flag as to whether that is potential hazard; it is an observation that will not be proven as hazardous or of having adverse effect until there is test,” she said.
The CPC boss said the Council, during the investigation, obtained from the open markets within the six geopolitical zones 65 samples of soft drinks, made up of Fanta Orange, Sprite, Mirinda, Lucozade, which were sent to Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) for the analysis of the level of Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow in the products.
“SHESTCO’s results revealed that Benzoic Acid levels in Fanta Orange as ranging from 5.09mg/L-197.0mg/L; Sprite 2.82mg/L-239.0mg/L; Mirinda, 0.56mg/L-330,9mg/L and Lucozade2.26mg/L-323.53mg/L.
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“A review of the test results of the products sampled further indicated that the level of Benzoic Acid in samples from the Northern zones were lower than those of the Southern zones. The test revealed levels as low as 2.26mg/L in the North and 5.09mg/L in the South,” she said.
While saying that Sunset Yellow, which has either been banned or has labelling requirement in several countries because of its adverse effect were found on the sampled products, Atoki, however, said the level of the additive was within the NIS limits, just as she called for a review of Benzoic Acid requirement in soft drinks.
