FG, CPC launch probe into safety of Fanta, Sprite sold in Nigeria

Following a Lagos High Court judgement on the unsafety of Fanta and Sprite, two products of Nigerian Bottling Company Plc (NBC), when taken with Vitamin C, the Federal Ministry of Health has commissioned a group of experts to urgently investigate the matter.

The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole made this known in tweets on his twitter handle, adding that he has also called for a meeting with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to discuss the issue.

Also, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Thursday said it has launched an investigation into the safety of additives in NBC’s Fanta and Sprite.

A Lagos High Court had in its judgement in a case involving an exporter, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) and NBC, on Monday directed the food agency to compel the company to include a warning on the bottles of its Fanta and Sprite that its contents cannot be taken with Vitamin C.

NBC has however denied the ruling and has appealed against the judgement in court.

But the Federal Ministry of Health, in a tweet by Adewole said he has commissioned a group of experts to urgently investigate and submit a report on the recent judgement.

He said, “I have instructed NAFDAC to liaise with SON to address Nigerians immediately concerning the safety of Coca-Cola products made in Nigeria.

“Is Coca-Cola being produced in Nigeria safe? Is the acidity level acceptable? What is the difference between Coca-Cola products in Nigeria and the United Kingdom? 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.”

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On its part, CPC’s Director General, Dupe Atoki, revealed to newsmen, that the investigation became necessary following the concern raised by the court judgment over the products.

“We are keenly interested and extremely concerned about the questions that have arisen from, and on account of this judgement, as such upon the discoveries therein, the CPC is launching a broad and detailed investigation as a matter of urgency.

“Indeed the judgement only serves as the subject of bringing this information to CPC’s attention, the council would conduct its own independent investigation,” Atoki said.

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