FG Orders Investigation Into Fanta, Sprite Crisis
Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health[/caption]
The federal Government on Thursday ordered a full scale investigation into the controversy surrounding the consumption of Fanta and Sprite drinks produced in the country.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, who disclosed this added that a group of experts will arrive the country on Friday to immediately begin the investigation process.
The minister also directed the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON to immediately address Nigerians on the safety of consuming Coca Cola products.
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Mr. Adewole also called for an urgent meeting with SON on Friday, saying that the “issue goes beyond the legal aspects” of a court verdict.
Nigerians are justifiably angry as it concerns the recent verdict of a case involving an exporter, NAFDAC & NBC (producers of Coca-cola) /1
— Prof. Isaac Adewole (@IsaacFAdewole) March 16, 2017
I have instructed NAFDAC to liaise with SON to address Nigerians immediately concerning the safety of Coca-cola products made in Nigeria /2
— Prof. Isaac Adewole (@IsaacFAdewole) March 16, 2017
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Is Coca-Cola being produced in Nigeria safe?
Is the acidity level acceptable?
What is the difference btwn Coca-Cola products in ?? & ??? /3— Prof. Isaac Adewole (@IsaacFAdewole) March 16, 2017
A group of experts have been convened to immediately investigate and submit a report. I have also requested a meeting with SON tomorrow /4
— Prof. Isaac Adewole (@IsaacFAdewole) March 16, 2017
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The issue goes beyond legal aspects of the court verdict. It is about morality. Nigerians can trust us to put their safety first. God bless
— Prof. Isaac Adewole (@IsaacFAdewole) March 16, 2017
The directive comes three days after a Lagos High Court ruled that NAFDAC should give the Nigeria Bottling Company, NBC, 90 days to include on all bottles of Fanta and Sprite that the content cannot be taken with Vitamin C.
The judgment was on a suit filed by a Lagos-based businessman, Emmanuel Adebo, and his company, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited, against NBC Plc and NAFDAC.
In his suit, Mr. Adebo urged the court to declare that NBC was negligent to its consumers by bottling Fanta and Sprite with excessive levels of benzoic acid and sunset additives. He had tried to export Nigeria-produced Fanta and Sprite to the UK, where they were described as poisonous by authorities there and destroyed.
Benzoic acid is a white, crystalline powder with a faint, non-offensive odour. Though it serves as preservative, if used excessively causes cancer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.
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NAFDAC and NBC said they have filed an appeal and a motion to stay execution of action on the judgement.
In its statement released on Wednesday, the NBC said there were different approved levels of benzoic acid between Nigeria and UK, but both were within the internationally accepted standard.
